Give what you don't need to those who need it most
Ellen Silverman
Cars
The National Kidney Foundation runs a program called Kidney Cars (www.kidneycars.org), which picks up your old auto, sells it for you, and then puts 67 percent of the net proceeds toward NKF programs, such as patient services, education, and kidney-disease research. Many familiar national charities have similar programs, including Habitat for Humanity’s Cars for Homes (www.carsforhomes.org). (You’ll also find dozens of online organizations offering to sell your used car and put the money toward a local or national charity of your choice, such as World Vision (www.worldvision.org). Most of these organizations are legitimate, but before handing over your car, do some research to confirm their nonprofit status, what your tax benefit will be, and that enough of the sale money will get to the charity.
Call your local high school or vocational college to see if your jalopy can be used in its auto-repair classes.
