The Salvation Army has been called the “most effective organization in the United States” by management expert Peter Drucker. The Salvation Army invests the charitable gifts it receives in the lives of men and women and boys and girls. One of the most effective ways to contribute is in the form of a Salvation Army car donation.
Why a Salvation Army car donation benefits you and society
According to the Salvation Army's 2002 annual report, approximately $0.83 of each dollar spent by the Salvation Army is used to fund direct services for people. However, in order to spend money, the Salvation Army must receive incoming funds or goods. Donations made or goods contributed, such as a Salvation Army car donation, are tax deductible and support their addiction recovery programs, which in turn benefits society.
How to make a Salvation Army car donation
If you have an operable car, truck, motorcycle, RV or boat (on a trailer), you can make a Salvation Army car donation. The Salvation Army website (www.salvationarmyusa.org) has a site locator that matches up your zip code with the nearest place that will accept your Salvation Army car donation. The Salvation Army in the United States is divided into four divisions – north, south, east and west. The Salvation Army’s toll free hotline has been temporarily discontinued, due to the overwhelming requests for information the hotline has received. Interested parties are encouraged to talk to a local Salvation Army center about concerns or to arrange a Salvation Army car donation.
From humble beginnings to embracing a Salvation Army car donation
Salvation Army Commissioner George Scott Railton arrived in New York City on March 10, 1880, officially launching the Salvation Army's work in the United States. More than 100 years later, the Army is at work in all 50 states, operating thousands of centers and programs, ranging from disaster relief to day care centers. While accepting contributions in the form of a Salvation Army car donation is a relatively new concept, supporting social programs has long been an American tradition.
What a Salvation Army car donation does
Adult rehabilitation centers are among the most widely known of all Salvation Army services and comprise the largest resident substance abuse rehabilitation program in the United States. Individuals, who are usually referred by the courts, receive housing, meals, and necessary medical care, and they engage in work therapy and skilled counseling. A Salvation Army car donation and other goods help to maintain the work therapy program and provide a source of revenue.
Other car donation options
If a Salvation Army car donation is not possible for you, there are a number of other charities that also accept vehicles. The following organizations work in the same manner as does a Salvation Army car donation:
- Gifts For Sight (www.giftsforsight.org) : provides eyecare and medical treatment to those who lack the monetary means to do so
- Christ Cars (www.christcars.com) : a Christian-based organization that works with kids; much like making a Salvation Army car donation
- Special Kids Fund (www.specialkidsfund.org)
- Donate Car For Charity (www.donate-car-for-charity.com) : charitable organization; operates like making a Salvation Army car donation.
By Virginia Zignego