Driving Success Provides a Vehicle to a Local Veteran
Driving Success works with many local non-profit organizations to provide vehicles to clients in need of transportation. Through a community partnership with the Veterans Council of Indian River County, Driving Success was able to provide a much-needed vehicle to an Army Veteran.
The Army veteran contacted the Veterans Council needing support. They had been evicted from their apartment and were living in a local hotel. They had been working for the same employer for more than three years and continued to work while facing homelessness. The Veterans Council was able to help this veteran receive a housing voucher. The veteran did not own a vehicle and had been taking public transportation to work. Since the local bus stops running at 7 pm, the veteran could not work the afternoon or late shifts causing a loss in their monthly income. In addition, the veteran could not secure housing because all available apartments were too far from their job and lack of transportation again was an obstacle.
The Veteran was referred to the Driving Success program for assistance with transportation. Driving Success worked closely with the veteran to secure all necessary documentation to qualify for the program. On March 31, 2023, the Driving Success representative met the Veteran at the Tax Collectors’ Office to transfer the title on a 2002 Lexus E300 to the Veteran. The Lexus had been donated by a generous individual in Vero Beach. Driving Success ensured that the vehicle was in great running condition by providing general maintenance through additional partnerships with local mechanics shops. All mechanical work was funded by a generous donation from the St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church. This veteran now has transportation to secure an apartment and reliable transportation to continue working and driving toward success!
This is a true community collaboration. It is our honor to work with local individuals, businesses and nonprofits to serve the unmet transportation need in our community.
Driving Success obtains vehicles through donation or purchase, and restores them to good working order with the support of community partners in the automotive industry and with financial contributions from individuals, businesses and community groups. Vehicles are then distributed to economically disadvantaged recipients who meet the program’s qualifications.
There are always more program applicants than there are available vehicles. For more information or to support the Driving Success mission with a vehicle donation or financial contribution, go to www.DrivingSuccessIRC.org or call (772) 646-8736.
Driving Success has the vision that all individuals in our community have reliable transportation. Our mission to increase independence and self-sufficiency in our community by providing a path to vehicle ownership for hardworking individuals and families to keep them working and driving toward success.
We can only do this work through the generosity of our community. Vehicle donations and financial contributions help fund this need.
You can help by spreading the word or supporting in any way you can. Like us on Facebook and share our messages with your friends and neighbors. Let them know that Driving Success accepts vehicle donations whether the vehicle runs or not. Let them know that financial contributions help buy tires, batteries, alternators and brakes.
Thank you for all you can do, from the bottom of our hearts!
Michele & Kevin Peters
