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.