More Than a Set of Wheels
Many of our friends and neighbors struggle to find accessible and reliable transportation in the Greater Charlottesville area. Our community is widespread and sprawling, so relying on public transportation can often mean several additional hours a day that keep riders away from their family, job, and other responsibilities (especially if they live farther outside of town). On top of this, we still see high used car interest rates and continued scarcity of reliable and affordable used cars on the market. As a result, many in our region are left unable to maintain stable employment due to the required commute.
Sade, a local Charlottesville mom found herself in a challenging situation like this when she experienced the loss of her vehicle. A working car was imperative to allow Sade to continue getting to her job as a payroll clerk on time without spending an additional $800 a month on Lyft and Uber rides. That is what prompted her to reach out to our Financial Stability team for help.
Regaining Independence
When she met with our team, they were able to agree that Sade was a good fit for our Driving Lives Forward program, which helps local families and individuals purchase reliable used vehicles through services such as down payment assistance, insurance support, affordable loan financing, and more. Through working with United Way of Greater Charlottesville, Sade was approved for a used 2018 Chevy Equinox! She reached out to our team to share about her experience and express gratitude for our transportation services:
“Your commitment to helping individuals like me has made an immeasurable difference in my life. Navigating the challenges of commuting has often left me feeling overwhelmed and stressed, especially as I’ve spent so much on ride shares just to get to work. However, thanks to your program, I am now on the path to financing my own vehicle, which is a tremendous relief. This opportunity is not just about transportation; it’s about regaining my independence and the ability to focus on my job without the constant worry of how I’ll get there.
A special thank you to Ella and Jennifer for your kindness and support throughout this journey. Your dedication and genuine care have made this process so much easier for me, and I truly appreciate everything you have done.
Thank you once again for believing in me and for the life-changing assistance you provide. I am excited about what the future holds, and I am forever grateful for the role United Way has played in my journey. “
Support Throughout the Journey
While awaiting her new-to-her car to be ready, Sade also took advantage of our Lyft Program, which we are able to offer via a partnership between Lyft and United Way Worldwide. Through this program, individuals can receive Lyft ride share vouchers when they do not have a vehicle available that allows them to get to work, job interviews or training, and other employment-related activities. She also shared how this program impacted her journey to getting back on her feet:
“I just wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the Lyft program. Using it this morning to get to work was truly a blessing, and it made my morning so much easier. I can’t thank you enough for the incredible support you’re providing through this initiative. “
If you’d like to learn more about our transportation services and other personal financial supports we offer, you can do so here. If you’d like to help us continue providing programs such as Driving Lives Forward and other essential services to those in need in our community, please consider supporting our work by making a donation.