Program lets those in need earn cars through community service

For many years, Good Works has been providing a "œcommunity of hope" for those struggling with homelessness and poverty in rural Appalachia.

Now the regional homeless shelter is getting the word out about a program called the Transformation Station, described as a way for neighbors struggling with poverty to obtain resources they need while also giving them the opportunity to help others.

The "Transformation Station" works on a point system of "sweat equity" in which participants can earn points by participating in various Good Works projects in order to obtain "thank you" gifts in the form of cars, appliances, bicycles or food.

Good Works Director Keith Wasserman said that many organizations are set up to just give people "stuff."

"And that's fine if they're in a crisis," Wasserman said. "If someone's house burns down, by all means, give them stuff. But if you're helping people over a long period of time, I think you have to ask other kinds of questions."

He said this is where the idea of "sweat equity" comes in, so that people can earn their gifts, which he said also helps people take pride in their accomplishments.

With 108 people on the waiting list to work for their gifts, Wasserman said Good Works is currently trying to get the word out to the community that they are seeking donations of cars, washing machines and other goods. The gifts are tax-deductible, he said, but cars need to be in working order, as there just isn't enough money to fix them.

People who want to work for a car must go through an application process, Wasserman said, which includes a phone and in-person interview.

"We send them all over the county to do service at the homes of citizens who are either disabled, or senior citizens, or maybe widowed," Wasserman said. "They go out and do the service and they get a point for the morning, a point for the afternoon. We include them in a meal while they're here. And they accumulate points so that they can use their points to buy a car. They can also get washing machines and food baskets."

Wasserman said the main things that can be earned through the Transformation Station include appliances such as washing machines and television sets, as well as food and cars.

"A morning's worth of work, which I think is about three hours, can take home a big food basket," Wasserman said. "This is for people who are not in crisis. If someone's in crisis and they're hungry, we'll feed them immediately."

He said the goal of the program is to facilitate community, clothe people with dignity and give them a sense of contributing to help others.

"That's the idea, to give people a sense of dignity and, in exchange, meet the need that they're needing," Wasserman said. The program's been in place for about five years, he said.

Wasserman said that the problem at this point is that the waiting list is so long.

"If we had more cars, I think that we could move things a little faster," he said.

In order to get into the program, Wasserman said, people in need will call and then go through the application process, which includes an in-person interview.

"Once they're approved, they get on the waiting list," Wasserman said. "And then when there's an opening we invite them to come. It's beautiful to see people get to the point (where) they get their points, they get their vehicles."

Wasserman emphasized that the whole project is dependent on the goodness of the community to donate cars.

"It's hard for us to compete with the advertising budgets of (other charities)," he said. "The difference between them and us is that if you donate your car to Good Works it is going to a family. We're not selling it for income. It's going to a family."

Lack of transportation, Wasserman said, is often a major barrier for the rural poor in obtaining and keeping work.

"Rural poverty is worse than urban poverty primarily because of the problem of transportation," he said. "You think about it. In an urban area, if you get a job, chances are that public transportation can get you to the job. In a rural area, if you're fortunate enough to get a job, you still have to get there. And if you don't live in the city, the barriers are pretty significant."

The project has given out about 50 cars over the five years that the program has been in place.
"Word gets out that people actually do get cars, the cars work and it's a real deal," Wasserman said. The cars that come in for donation come from a variety of different people, he said. The goal now is to get the word out that this is an option to help people in the area.

"On a practical guideline, sometimes comes down to if you want to trade your car in and get the book value or if you can afford to give your car away and get a full IRS tax deduction," Wasserman said. "There are some real generous people out there who really want to help. And this is one way they can enjoy helping."