Freedom Wheels: A Road to Safety
Caring Unlimited’s Freedom Wheels, a car repair and donation program that helps people get safe and reliable transportation, was the resource that changed everything for Sarah*.
After securing an order of protection against her abusive partner, Sarah found herself physically safer but her overall survival was threatened when her partner left with their car.
Sarah was stranded in the rural York County town where she lived. She quickly lost her job because she couldn't get to work and things spiraled downward from there. With no income, she faced food insecurity and homelessness. With no transportation, she could not attend medical, court, and other appointments. She couldn't even look for a new job without a car.
Sarah called Caring Unlimited’s 24-hour helpline seeking support and a way forward. Her Protection from Abuse order was only one piece of a much larger safety puzzle. Sarah feared that with no other options or support she would have to allow her partner to return in order to survive. She had reached out to other community resources but they only helped in the moment, they did not give her long term solutions. A helpline volunteer listened as she described all of her concerns.
Sarah wanted to make a long term plan for her future without depending on the person who abused her, a future where she was safe and in control of her own decisions.
The helpline volunteer connected Sarah to a number of Caring Unlimited programs including legal assistance, outreach, and supportive housing services. She wanted to move on from the abuse and create a new life for herself, but without transportation, she was stuck.
A car donated through Freedom Wheels changed everything.
“Thank you so much! I don’t know what I would have done without this help!”
- Sarah
Sarah’s “new” car received all necessary maintenance to pass inspection and the program paid for the initial registration and insurance.
Once she had safe and reliable transportation, Sarah quickly secured full time employment. She caught up on medical appointments. She was able to attend court and secure a permanent protection order. Now, Sarah is on the road to safety.
*Name changed to protect confidentiality