Where is your focus right now?

At Donate A Car Canada we are reminded every day to be “Others” focused. The stories attached to every donated car constantly impact our world. I believe our awareness is heightened as a result of working with thousands of generous people and many deserving charities. It’s such a cool gig to be a part of!

Today I wish you could truly know the individuals behind the scenes here. Each of us bringing our unique offering to our process and each with their own passion to ‘give back’. It may seem somewhat indulgent of me to talk about our own people, but we’ve developed a strong community spirit. We’ve worked hard to integrate that into our core environment.

Every gift that comes from a car donation has a helping impact!

Our daily interactions include so many volunteers and workers faithful to their causes. People passionate about what they do are so grateful for the money generated through our program. It’s because of people like you that we get to enjoy these moments and memories!

If you’re reading this and you don’t have a car to get rid of, or a pocket book that allows you to ‘give generously’, there are so many ways to make those ‘trips around the sun’ more meaningful on a daily basis. Even if it’s a simple smile or an encouraging word, or laughter shared with another (we do that a lot around here!), it all counts and it all makes a difference. It really doesn’t take much to be an angel.

I love the message behind this Nickelback song …

Angels among us

Recently, J.P. donated their 2018 Chevy Malibu for their charity of choice. Meals on Wheels received a gift of $11,100.00! The donor’s experience? They wrote, ” Would use this service again as they made it so easy!”

We’d say that J.P. is the one that made it easy!

Connie donated her 1958 Seville for the Action Coalition on Human Trafficking. Another shining star! 

And don’t forget the companies that gift their retired rides. One such donated their scrap-ready Dodge Ram for VOKRA — a kitten rescue in Vancouver, B.C.

Your unused, unwanted car can launch you to angel status just like that! Fill in your donation form today and make this trip around the sun count!

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Team work is at the heart of Donate a Car Canada

At Donate A Car, some of the main contributors to our success are our agents. They are the tow drivers, the recycling depots, and the auction houses that we rely on. These agents take care of getting your donated vehicles where they need to go. And believe-you-me, they do this come rain, hail, sleet, or snow!

From processing your vehicle information, tending pick-up details, and profitably re-selling that trusty ol’ car, they’ve got you (and us) covered! All of this so that your valuable donation dollars benefit your chosen charity!

We do not underestimate their value, as they are often the only faces you’ll see representing Donate A Car Canada. Because we are a nationwide company, it is crucial to have agents aligned with our values. They understand the importance of doing good and providing excellent service that supports a good cause.

So how does our team work relationship with the agents work?

When a vehicle is donated, it is assigned to be re-sold or recycled. That agent will be geographically near the location of the donated vehicle. They are not paid staff of Donate A Car, but rather connections. Ensuring your vehicles are picked up and processed is their jam. They are independent business owners and often offer their services to us at a reduced rate! Their aim is to ensure maximum donation-dollar benefit to your charity of choice.

We believe a BIG share of credit for the success of our program goes to these dedicated people across Canada. They take what we do (and what you donate) seriously. They ensure each donor is well cared for.

There are other players on this team, too!

Donate a Car Canada is a tight little bunch. Many of us have been working here for over a decade. Moreover, we are all trained across multiple facets of the business. This allows us to offer charity and donor care in a stream-lined and cost-efficient way. It also allows us to offer charity and donor care with a whole lot of humanity, humour, and kindness!

We are also partnered with CanadaHelps! If you haven’t seen the magnificent scope of their work, visit them today. Be amazed by the over 80,000 servicing organizations you’ll discover there! CanadaHelps are the folks that will ensure you receive the tax receipt for your vehicle donation.

Every car, truck, van, SUV, or motorcycle donation counts!

And, as  you can see, your in good hands with our team of capable, quality, funny people! Team work is the only way to keep all of this thrumming along seamlessly. We feel so lucky to be in the game with you.

Ready to get in the game? We can’t wait to see your vehicle donation!

Thanks team!

Team work makes the dream work! ~John Maxwell

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These and many other emotions are often voiced to our donor care team when a vehicle with sentimental value is donated. It’s no surprise that when a vehicle has been part of the family for many years it can be a bit of a process to let it go. It usually carries with it the hope that someone else will have similar attachment to it, or see the value that it brings because of the memories and service it has provided.

When you click the “Donate my car” button…

Sometimes the thought of recycling a vehicle with that kind of attachment to it is difficult. So, we’re grateful we have the option to auction vehicles to extend their life!

Our team feels the responsibility of ensuring donated vehicles are evaluated and processed for the best possible outcome. This is so for both the donor and the charity. How are those decisions made? It is very case-by-case. Because we treat each vehicle with respect and recognize that it can be a significant decision to just to let it go. Donating it to a charity is next level! Therefore, we are diligent in staying current with metal prices and in trends that may impact the outcome. We want your answer to the question, “Donate my car?!” to support your vision of contributing to a cause. Your donation makes a difference for others. That is the foundation of what we do.

Across the country we strive to secure agents with a heart for charities. We often receive feedback about some of our agents being absolutely FABULOUS. As Clyde describes in his own words, “I was so impressed with the service and professionalism of not only Donate A Car Canada but the men they sent to pick up my car. It took two efforts to get the car from the underground parking. I will most definitely suggest Donate A Car Canada to my friends and neighbours. Thanks again for such good service.”

Donate my car? Absolutely! My donation will help the cause I care about!

After over two decades in business with a national presence, it is both rewarding and exciting to see the widespread impact you, our donors, are having on thousands of Canadian registered charities. We love sending monetary gifts, ever month, to the causes that you are passionate about!

Our answer to the question of, “Donate my car? How can I let her go?” is that your vehicle, whether you’re emotionally attached to it or can’t wait to get rid of it, makes a difference when you choose to send it off to be used for a greater good. Way to go!

Contact and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! From there, you’ll be able to keep up to date on our program as well as see posts that showcase our amazing donors and charities across the country!

The post Donate My Car, My Precious Car?! appeared first on Donate A Car.

We think it’s about time you knew some ‘behind-the-scenes’ information about how our agents’ involvement makes a difference for you, our donors!

Donate A Car operates by connecting with agents (towing companies, salvage yards, auction houses) across the country. They share our vision and process.  We invite them to participate in the joy of facilitating donations to charities nationwide. Then, when you submit your vehicle for donation, we assign it to one of those agents. They pick up or auction it on your behalf — for free!

Recently one of our family-run salvage yards participated in what turned out to be a really cool experience. And not just for them! For them, for our donor, and for our Donate A Car team. Oh! And for the charity the donor selected (in this case, the MS Society)!

Wheelin’ in a Unique Donation for the MS Society!

Talk about an interesting scenario! A Calgary woman offered her used electric wheelchair as a donation to the MS Society. At first we were unsure if we could help her with it. Although it had wheels, it wasn’t really considered a ‘vehicle’! A Calgary agent agreed to take it but then suggested it go to their sister site in Edmonton. The had a hunch that the Edmonton locale’s style of auction would get a better donation result. They then generously offered to transport the chair from Calgary to Edmonton at no charge.

In the big scheme of things, we would never have guessed what that wheelchair would bring at auction because we’ve never had the opportunity to do this before. I don’t know that any of us anticipated that it would generate almost $600.00 in a charitable amount being given to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. Woot!

What we didn’t know at the time was that the owner of the company was all over that sale. The gentleman who bought the used wheelchair is a regular attender at the Edmonton auction site. He requires the use of a wheelchair. When the compassionate auction owner discovered it was one of his ‘regulars’ who’d purchased the wheelchair he said, “I wouldn’t hear of him paying for that chair so I just went ahead and covered the cost for him. ‘Just paid for it!”

These are the moments we know we’re in the right place at the right time doing the right thing with the right people!

Thank you to all of our agent who, daily, make a difference on behalf of donors and charities alike! The MS Society and thousands (Yes – actual thousands!) more. You’ve got a lot of heart!

The post Our Agents Have Heart: MS Society Receives Unique Gift appeared first on Donate A Car.

One of my favourite traditions with my Mom is going to K-Days in Edmonton. We’ve done it for 21 years now, with the exception of maybe one or two when I was having babies. We enjoy a leisurely lunch while we watch the thoroughbred races at Northlands Park. We spend the whole afternoon laughing and enjoying each other’s company. She bets, I post them for her, we have our little routines. Then we wander through the exhibits, buy fudge and mini donuts. We stay at a hotel because we both come from other places. They are memories I will treasure as long as I live.

What does going to the Exhibition have to do with Mother’s Day? Well, those memories contribute to the embodiment of who my Mom is, and when it comes to celebrating her, those moments mean something. When I think of her, there is no thing I can do, nor words to fully express my gratitude for all she represents to me. When Mother’s Day comes around, I fall so short in acknowledging her but then, maybe demonstrating my love and appreciation is something I should do more of all year through and not just leave it for one day out of the entire year! This year she’s going to be in Cow Town with me (a rare treat), and we get to enjoy an Elvis impersonation dinner theatre. Can’t wait! After all, Elvis was always her first love!! 🙂

Memory lane and Mother’s Day

I read an article this week that took me down memory lane and it offered a great idea for making Mom’s day special. One dad bought a journal and has his little girl write/draw a card in it every year instead of buying one. How sweet is that? I like that dad! Thoughtful, all I’d need to draw a tear or two! Isn’t that a great idea?

There are so many creative things we can do without spending a ton of money. Breakfast in bed – the old standby. A hand-made coupon book filled with ‘gifts’ of time, chores done, good attitudes, no sibling fights for a day… Flowers of course, family. Surprises.

Mom’s Day and Donate a Car Canada

All of us working at Donate A Car Canada are moms [This was the case when this was originally posted back in 2014 — we’ve had a few shuffles in staff since then!]. We all have lots of stuff. I think I can safely speak for all of us when I say that we don’t need more stuff. We want more meaning. If you really wanted to do something meaningful for Mom, you could ask what her favourite charity is and make a donation on her behalf. Maybe it’s MADD, maybe it’s Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, maybe it’s Inn from the Cold. Take a look through our thousands of Canadian charities and you’ll find an organization I’m sure, who could use the love and generosity of a family honouring their Mom, whether it’s a monetary gift, a vehicle donated through our program, or even volunteering.

Whatever you choose to do to make Mother’s Day memorable, know that even the little things mean a lot to us Moms!

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Snow ban, tow ban!

Listening to the radio advise there was a tow ban earlier this week, it was clearly a crazy blizzard. No tow trucks permitted on the road? A sure sign of bad weather! Through all of it I’m reminded to be grateful for the comfort of heat in my home. Moreover, I’m doubly blessed to have heated seats in my car and a garage to park it in.

This is the time of year when the cold becomes a matter of life or death for many. As we make preparations for our family and Christmas celebrations, some are struggling to survive the elements.

A growing trend in our over-commercialized world is donating money to a charity! Better yet? Donate on behalf of the person you’d be buying a gift for. What a great idea for those ‘hard-to-buy-for’ people in our lives!

We have many charities on our list that could benefit from your support throughout this holiday season. They in turn can make a difference in the lives they are passionate to help.  Here are a few to consider as part of your Christmas list this year!

Boyle Street Community Services – Edmonton

Catholic Missions in Canada – National

Community Living Winnipeg – Winnipeg

Covenant House – Toronto

CUPS (Calgary Urban Projects Society) – Calgary

Distress Centre – Calgary

Hope Mission – Edmonton

Meals on Wheels of Frederiction – Fredericton

The Mustard Seed – Calgary/Edmonton

Project Warmth Society of Alberta

Salvation Army – Alberta

Sanctuary – Toronto

Servants Anonymous – Calgary

Do you want to reach out to any of these charities with a vehicle donation? We can help!

First, we’ll get you set up with a free tow! Once we have your vehicle donation form things hum along. So, fill in an online donation form. This is a ten minute task. Then, wait for your phone to ring (that’s the tow crew ready to set you up with your tow time). Next, watch your inbox for your tax receipt.

The process is simple, quick, free, and friendly! And every car counts for the charity you love!

The post Feels Like the North Pole – Warm up With a Free Tow! appeared first on Donate A Car.

According to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Canadian baby boomers are at risk of living out their last 10 years in sickness and disability (read article here).

If you pause to consider that, it is an astounding statistic. Ten years is equal to 120 months or 520 weeks or 3,650 days…or 87,600 hours.  Would you agree that there is a lot of life to be lived in that time frame? Things to do, places to go, people to see? It’s certainly worth taking a look at.

Even though we’re outlasting previous generations in the number of years we live, living those extra years in health and wellness instead of with debilitating diseases, would be a fantastic way for every one of us to live out our golden years. Our health system is overloaded and understaffed. Families are in distress. Individuals are in pain and suffering. Wouldn’t it be great if all of us took a few minutes to evaluate our lifestyles and take steps towards change and making healthier choices?

Donate A Car Canada is honoured to support charities like the Heart & Stroke Foundation, knowing that research and resources are making a difference in lives across our nation. When you donate your vehicle to one of our charities of choice, you become part of the solution. Dollars matter – every dollar.

The most powerful and

readily available medicine

we have at our disposal is

CHOICE

~unknown~

Giving from the heart

Did you know that your car, truck, van, SUV, or motorcycle donation can go to any charity in Canada? Furthermore, donating is simple, quick, and free! Some of our partnered charities who benefit from your generosity:

Heart & Stroke Foundation

Canadian Hospice Palliative Care

Canadian Transplant Society

Chinook Regional Hospital (Lethbridge)

Hospice Calgary Society

Seniors Healthy Aging Resource Environment

For our full charities listing, click here

Follow your heart – click, call, or scroll

Click on the big red button below! That will take you to our online donation form. In under 10 minutes you’ll be on your way to a free tow. Or, call in to talk with one of our exceptional donor support staff: 1-877-250-4904. We’re here to help!

You are also invited to contact and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! From there, you’ll be able to keep up to date on our program as well as see posts that showcase our amazing donors and charities across the country!

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