Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell celebrates Earth Month by recycling cars into homes

Submitted by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell

In recognition of Earth Month, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell invites its supporters to recycle their used cars and vehicles to help build hope and homes in partnership with low-income families in Greater Lowell and Middlesex County.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell is the sponsoring organization for Bedford’s recently completed Habitat homes.

Throughout the month of April, Habitat for Humanity’s Cars for Homes program will celebrate its “Every Day is Earth Day” initiative, encouraging people to donate their used cars, trucks, RVs, boats and other vehicles to help raise funds for Habitat for Humanity Greater Lowell and other Habitat affiliates throughout the country.  In Massachusetts, that donation number is 1,751 and raised $812,523.87.  These funds have helped the Massachusetts Affiliates build 746 safe, decent affordable homes” said Kim Trainor, Director Community Relations Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell.

Donating a good used car can provide needed transportation for a new owner.  Donating a gas-guzzling heap saves energy, prevents air pollution, and keeps valuable resources from rusting away in a field or on a city street.  Steel scrap is an essential material in making new steel.  More steel is recycled annually than paper, plastic, aluminum, glass and copper combined.

Every day, Habitat’s Cars for Homes generates funding from the sale of used cars, trucks, and other vehicles. Those funds are distributed to local Habitat for Humanity organizations in the U.S. to help build affordable homes in partnership with low-income families. To date, more than 40,000 vehicles have been donated to the program. “

“On average, about 25 percent of the vehicles we receive each year are recycled, so donating idle cars not only helps Habitat build homes but also gets gas guzzlers off  the road, ” said Marcia Rundle, director of Habitat’s Cars for Homes program. “Donating a vehicle is a hassle-free way for anyone to support their local Habitat affiliate while being good stewards of the environment.”

Right now, both good used cars and end-of-life vehicles are in demand and generating record revenues.  With your help, we can capitalize on this opportunity for additional revenues!

Interested donors can call 1-877-277-HFHI (4344) or donate a car or other vehicle online at www.CarsforHomes.com. Donor contact, title and vehicle information is collected, and upon acceptance of the donation, Cars for Homes will tow the vehicle away, free of charge. Donors receive an acknowledgement letter for their car donation and should check with the Internal Revenue Service or their tax advisor for information about the tax deductibility of their donation.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization which seeks to eliminate substandard housing and provide deserving, low income families, with decent affordable homes.  Habitat’s success is through volunteer labor, donations and the help of the partner family. Habitat of Greater Lowell has built or rehabilitated 28 homes for families in need in our local community as well as 45 homes globally. Habitat of Greater Lowell has completed its first Critical Repair for a local veteran. Habitat believes in providing a hand up not a hand out to end the cycle of poverty housing. Please visit us at www.lowellhabitat.org.  Towns serviced by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell are: Bedford, Billerica, Burlington, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Dracut, Dunstable, Lowell, Reading, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, Wakefield, Westford and Wilmington.

Habitat for Humanity International is a global nonprofit Christian housing organization that seeks to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since 1976, Habitat has served more than 500,000 families by welcoming people of all races, religions and nationalities to construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. For more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit Habitat.org, or follow us https://www.facebook.com/habitat or at Twitter.com/habitat.org or join Habitat’s blog community at Habitat.org/blog.