Success Stories
With her Wheels' vehicle she no longer has to compromise her health to get to work.
Wanda has diabetes and was walking long distances to catch her bus in Florida's extreme high temperatures. People with diabetes need to be extra careful when temperatures climb dramatically. Extreme heat and heavy activity in heat negatively affects blood sugar control.
These extreme body stresses and the psychological stress it caused was putting Wanda at a higher risk, often worsening her blood sugar control and as a result her health.
Knowing this she still she tried never to miss work until one day the stress and extreme health effects of walking so far took their toll on her health. Wanda ended up being hospitalized to get her diabetes back under control and treat the resulting heart complications.
With her Wheels' vehicle she no longer has to compromise her health to get to work. Her diabetes is easier to control allowing for less missed days at work. Her employer says she has become her "right hand of support" for the company. Opportunities and advancement in her career are now a possibility and her future looks bright. "Life is now accessible to me. I have found a new freedom that a cab or bus ride could never provide."
At Wheels of Success we often say the vehicles we provide, offers our clients their "Key to Success". This is very true for Teresa; she worked as a nurse for 23 years earning $15$18 an hr until she was left without reliable transportation. Without a reliable vehicle she is currently working at a factory only earning $9 an hr with 3 children to support. Unable to afford an apartment, she and her children are now living in a shelter.
Before receiving his Wheels' vehicle Michael, a dedicated, hardworking veteran took 3 buses, spending over 2.5 hrs. getting to work. Struggling to get to work in order to support his family took its toll in terms of stress and lack of confidence. Riding the bus for so many hours a day left little quality time to spend with his family.
Tory through her dedication and hard work has completed our 1 year program by making her monthly $125 payments and volunteer hours. Now Tory has earned the title to her "New to Her" 2009 Toyota Camry donated by State Farm that is still running strong.
When Tory received her vehicle from Wheels of Success it was not just about getting to work but also the ability to see her sons who did not live with her. She is a hard worker and has always been, never missing a day of work despite previously relying on public transportation. Along with her fierce determination to succeed, her vehicle is her primary Key to Success. Having a reliable vehicle enabled her to advance in her career; she is now a fully licensed insurance agent working for one of Tampa's top agencies and doing well. Her 2009 Toyota Camry also grew her relationship with her sons. Thanks to her Wheels she is able not only able to visit them, she can also take them places and spend quality time with them.
"The vehicle from Wheels of Success has blessed our family so much. My husband is able to work extra shifts. My 4 year old daughter and I no longer need to cross 60/Brandon Blvd. to make our bus from school to home. She can ride in the car to school, church, museum days, birthday parties, and sleep overs. We no longer have to walk to the grocery store with our stroller or pay for Uber. We can drive to Dr. Appts saving missed time from work. I can stay for late parent teacher conference night's or meetings and drive home without worrying about how I will get home in the dark.
Rebecca left everything behind in California to find safety for her and her 2 teenage children, one who has severe health problems. She drove to Clearwater, Fl in an old 1995 Mercury Tracer with close to 200,000 miles that died when she arrived.
In 2012, Verinica received her 2002 Honda Accord and now almost 5 years later it is still running with over 300,000 miles and very few repairs. Now she is ready to trade up to our ABC- GTE Program.
A family of five, with children 13, 11 and 9 were kicked out of the home they shared with relatives. To keep from sleeping in their van, they moved to a small motel room, where someone reported them to the Department of Children and Families and the children were removed. Now, one year later, they are being reunited with the help of Joshua House; the final stipulation that they have reliable transportation, which theirs is not.
Brandon is a true American hero. He is a husband, father of a four year old, and as an infantryman with the US Army, served four tours on the front lines in Iraq. In honor of his service, the US Army has awarded him with its highest honors, decorations and medals for bravery and valor.
Tyrone left the grocery store and carefully loaded the handlebars of his bike with 3 bags on each side for perfect balance. Then guiding his bike through the hectic traffic, he arrived at the bus stop just as the bus pulled up. When the double doors opened, he quickly shifted the bags from his handlebars to his arms and began to lift his bicycle into the crowded bus. But it was not meant to be. Unfortunately, there is a 2 bike limit on the bus and two other cyclists had already boarded so there was no room for his bike. He had to step down, re-balance his groceries and his bike, back out of the closing doors, and wait 45 minutes for the next bus. It was going to be another one of those days.