Helping people get 'behind the wheel and on their feet' Car donation program helps workers hold down a job

WEST LONG BRANCH — It's a fact of life in many New Jersey towns: people who do not have access to a car and who do not live near public transportation may find their employment opportunities severely limited.
To address this problem, Monmouth Cares launched the Family Lift Adopt-ACar program to help financially strapped families throughout the county. Family Lift, a registered nonprofit based in West Long Branch, helps to provide families in need with donated cars that can help them better their lives.
"Studies show that people are more likely to find steady employment when they have access to a vehicle," explained Family Lift Project Manager Kathy Maude.
"But all too often, buying and maintaining a reliable automobile is too expensive for families struggling to make ends meet.
"Family Lift meets those needs by accepting donated cars, having them repaired to safe, reliable levels, and distributing them to needy Monmouth Cares families," Maude explained.
A division of the state's Division of Child Behavioral Heath Services' (DCHS) System of Care, Monmouth Cares Inc. helps families of children with emotional and behavioral challenges build a promising future.
In 2006, Monmouth Cares decided to look into the problem that not having a vehicle can present for families living in Monmouth County.
"Public transportation is designed to accommodate the 9-to-5 commuters who need to get from one city destination to another during the normal work week," Maude said.
"However, many employment opportunities are increasingly found in plants, warehouses, strip malls and suburban office parks," she said. "Work schedules may include overtime and off-hour shifts, when public transportation is unavailable or too unreliable."

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