- Published: March 03, 2011
Wheels of Success is a unique non-profit organization whose mission is to provide reliable personal transportation to help working families through a program of car repairs, vehicle replacement and assistance with car related licensing services so that they can keep their job, find better employment, increase their work hours or use the vehicle to also get to school.
Wheels of Success only takes referrals from agencies or employers through their website www.wheelsofsuccess.org, and will not accept applications directly from an individual. Applicants must be working full time or have a verifiable full time job offer and cannot afford to purchase their own car due to financial burdens. For instance, GCJFCS recently referred a counseling client to the organization because they were in a car accident and no longer had a vehicle. The client needed a car to get to work and they were in danger of losing their job if they did not get reliable transportation. This particular client had a family that was also suffering since they had no car to get them to the store and activities.
Susan Jacobs, the founder and CEO, explained that statistically the majority of families she helps are single mothers (about 84%) but the agency also helps couples and single men as well. The main obstacle that she encounters is that she does not have enough cars to give the clients in need. She is always in need of vehicles to be donated and explained that all cars that are donated, running or not, are accepted and picked up through AAA Auto Club South at no charge to the donor or the agency.
Once the applicant is eligible to receive a car, they must agree to certain stipulations. The clients agree to pay a small payment of about $50 per month for one year and at the end of the year they will receive the title to the vehicle. They are also required to volunteer with the agency for three hours per month during that year.
Ms. Jacobs stated the vehicle changes the quality of life for many families as they are now able to sustain their independence and find a new freedom not offered by public transportation. In their exit surveys after their year of payments and volunteering, clients tell the organization that their lives are happier and less stressful, thus making them better employees. Because they are spending less time travelling to and from work (often 3-4 hours per day on the bus) they can spend more time with their families. They now have transportation to participate in their children’s school activities, visit relatives, and some were even thankful they could finally visit one of our beautiful beaches now that they had a car to get there. All things those of us with reliable transportation often take for granted!
Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services Newsletter