Donated cars expected to benefit ‘hundreds’
2 non-profit agencies that help vulnerable women and kids each receive a car donated through Carma Project
Two non-profit agencies will be better able to serve their clients after each received a donated car on Wednesday.
The Elizabeth Fry Society was given a 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser and NOW Canada received a 2006 Honda Odyssey.
“This car is going to be phenomenal for us,” said Liz Talbott of NOW Canada.
“It’s going to make a huge difference,” agreed Lindsay Hammond of the Elizabeth Fry Society.
Both groups serve vulnerable women and children, often fleeing violent relationships. Half the Elizabeth Fry Society’s clients come to the agency without a car, Hammond said.
The vehicles will be used for such things as trips to the food bank, meetings with social service representatives and court proceedings. Hammond said it was particularly important the car doesn’t have the society’s markings on it, so the anonymity of the clients is protected.
The donations were arranged by Bruce and Penny Stranaghan, owners of Integra Tire Kelowna. Their “Carma Project” has now co-ordinated the donation of 16 vehicles from community-minded people, most having gone to individuals.
For the latest donation, it was decided the cars should be offered to non-profit agencies that serve a great number of people, to get maximum value out of the vehicles.
Each car, Penny Stranaghan noted, might now benefit “hundreds, up to thousands” of people during the vehicles’ lifetimes.
The Honda was donated by Dr. Steven Krywulak, and the Chrysler was offered by another charity, Adult and Teen Challenge Kelowna.
Krywulak said he always intended to donate his Honda and was pleased to see it will be relied upon by many people.
“That makes it all the more worthwhile,” he said.
Mayor Colin Basran praised the spirit of generosity that underlies the Carma Project, which started in 2010.
“This is true community, what you’re creating,” Basran said. “This project is changing lives.”