Car donations can help

Individuals can respond to the cries for help from victims of natural disasters by donating their used vehicles to charities that head up recovery efforts. Car donations that are handled by a reputable, authorized agent provide an essential source of cash funding to charities, such as the American Red Cross, so that disaster recovery programs can be carried out.

A car donation is converted into cash for the charity. People who want to help but who cannot make a cash donation should know that their used cars could be just as beneficial.

As the public seeks ways to respond to those in need, particularly in light of Hurricane Katrina, individuals considering trading in their vehicles might consider donating instead. Whereas a trade-in will get the owners limited credit toward their new purchases, a car donation can get the owner a tax write-off for the full sale amount of the vehicle, which is often more than the trade-in credit received, and the charity receives cash proceeds from the vehicle's liquidation. With car donations, the value of one car helps twice, as two parties benefit - the donor and the charity.

The United Way has referred car donors to Cars Helping America, a Massachusetts-based vehicle donation processing center that handles car donations for different American Red Cross chapters and numerous other 501(c) (03) charities.

Individuals who want to help by donating a car can call 1-866-949-3668 or visit www.carshelpingamerica.org.

Car donation can help

Car owners looking to get that extra car out of the yard before the next snowfall can do well for themselves while doing a good thing for others.

All it takes is one quick phone call and the American Lung Association will send you a packet of information about the process - or you can connect with us via the internet. Log on to http://www.lungma.org or call toll-free 1-800-577-5864.

Once you've decided to go ahead with the donation, a tow truck can be sent to pick up your car at no cost to you. By donating people have the opportunity to part with their used cars and receive a tax deduction for 2005 while helping the American Lung Association of Massachusetts support its vital lung research, advocacy, and community education efforts.

Every year thousands of cars are donated through the American Lung Association of Massachusetts vehicle donation program, raising more than $190,000.

It's a simple and convenient way to support the American Lung Association of Massachusetts and the work it does to help Americans living with chronic lung disease such as asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Stricken town gets old cop cars

By Lesley Rogers Barrett
lesley.rogers.barrett@indystar.com
As part of its adoption of hurricane-struck Long Beach, Miss., Carmel has donated eight police cars to the Gulf Coast community.
The department lost eight cars this month when Hurricane Katrina destroyed the Long Beach police headquarters and other municipal buildings.
Carmel had eight recently retired cars to send as replacements.
Mike Fogarty, Carmel's police chief, said the eight cars are older, and each has about 90,000 miles on it. The city bought replacements this summer and planned to auction the old cars this fall.

"We're pleased to be in a position to donate them," Fogarty said. "The timing was right. I would rather see them go to this use."

Katrina left about 40 percent of Long Beach's 17,000 residents homeless, and Carmel is partnering resources with city departments, churches and service organizations to help.
The effort to help rebuild Long Beach has gained support from Carmel residents. St. Elizabeth Seaton adopted the Catholic Church in Long Beach, and Carmel's VFW Post No. 10003 sent a $500 donation to the Long Beach VFW Post No. 3937, which lost its roof and one wall in the storm.

Carmel Clay Public Library will send books to its Long Beach counterpart.
To open schools by Monday, Long Beach needs supplies for teachers and students, including paper, pens, pencil, glue, crayons and general cleaning supplies.

Volunteers will accept supplies until Thursday afternoon, when a semitrailer truck will deliver the goods. The truck is parked in front of City Hall, off Range Line Road, and is open for donations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday.
Residents also can send tax-deductible donations by check to "City of Long Beach," with "Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund" on the memo line, to: City of Long Beach, Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund, P.O. Box 929, Long Beach, MS 39560.

Long Beach, about 80 miles from New Orleans, took a major hit from the storm. About 30 feet of water covered the city and destroyed most of its business district.
Long Beach Mayor William "Billy" Skellie Jr. thanked Carmel in an e-mail last week.
"Words cannot express the deep appreciation we feel toward those helping us here in Long Beach," Skellie wrote. "To know that individuals are willing to help our suffering citizens is an extremely humbling experience."

For more information about Carmel's efforts and to see photographs of Long Beach, go online to www.carmel.in.gov/ and click on the "Long Beach Katrina Relief" icon.
Call Star reporter Lesley Rogers Barrett at (317) 444-2613.

Donate your car for charity

Thursday, September 15, 2005Car owners looking for an end of the year tax break can do well for themselves while doing a good thing for others. It's a simple and convenient way to support the American Lung Association of Massachusetts and the work it does to help the hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts residents living with chronic lung disease such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. All it takes is one quick toll-free phone call to 1-800-577-5864 and the American Lung Association will send you a packet of information about the process.

Once you've decided to go ahead with the donation, a tow truck can be sent to pick up your car at no cost to you. By donating, people have the opportunity to part with their used cars and possibly receive a tax deduction for 2005 while the American Lung Association of Massachusetts gets continued support for its lung disease research, advocacy, and community education programs.

An estimated 6.1 million children under 18 currently have asthma. Programs such as the American Lung Association's Camp Chest Nut, an overnight camp for asthmatic children ages 8 to 13, is essential in helping those children learn to manage and control their asthma. Additionally, an estimated 440,000 Americans die each year due to smoking-related diseases. The American Lung Association and its Freedom From Smoking(r) program, the recognized gold standard in adult smoking cessation programs, face-to-face, online and through a self-help manual helps smokers quitting by providing support during the difficult times. Programs such as these benefit from the funds raised through the American Lung Association of Massachusetts' vehicle donation program.
Beginning our second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. The American Lung Association funds vital research on the causes of and treatments for lung disease. With the generous support of the public, the American Lung Association is "Improving life, one breath at a time." For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or log on to www.lungusa.org. For more information about the vehicle donation program or to donate your car, call 1-800-548-8252.