Low Income Mom Gets Car Through Vehicles For Change (photo courtesy Lindsey Mastis)
KENSINGTON, Md. (WUSA) -- A non-profit has changed the life of a low-income family from Bethesda by providing a donated car.
"I can't stop smiling," said Shanita Godfrey.
The mother of two was handed keys to a silver 2001 Toyota Camry. It's a moment she's never experienced.
"This is the best Christmas ever. It's my first car. It's perfect," she said.
Godfrey spends upwards of five hours on the bus and Metrorail going from her home in Bethesda to her job in Gaithersburg. She also sees her 7-year-old son Jelani get on the school bus before rushing her 4-year-old daughter Cheyenne to daycare in Rockville.
"My son really, really, really wanted to do after school projects, but with the commute, we couldn't do it," she said.
Now Jelani has plans to enroll in karate.
Godfrey got the car through Vehicles for Change.
"We're the only program in DC, Maryland, and Virginia that actually takes a donated car, and repairs the car," said Martin Schwartz, Vehicles for Change.
He said they team up with organizations like the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County to find deserving, low-income families.
"I'm already getting more hours at work. Once they knew I was getting a car, they said can you work more hours? I said sure!" Godfrey said.
Godfrey did not get the car for free. She has to pay $750 over the course of a year. It'll help her establish credit.
"This is the best feeling in the world to drive my own car," she said.
Schwartz said people that donate to Vehicles for Change get a tax deduction for the fair market value of their car.
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