How Artemis II and her crew inspire

As I write these few words about inspiring humans, I’m getting a little education on how the Artemis II crew is to be transported from their craft to the medical bay. They’re about to fill their lungs with Earth air once again. Feet firmly planted on our little orb, they’ll turn their attention toward helping their bodies readjust to the pull of gravity.

The crew is comprised of Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen (Oh, Canada!). If you’re like me, you’ve likely been a bit taken up with the many messages that have been beamed down to us from journey. Messages of integrity, togetherness, compassion, and achievement.

Waiting hopefully-expectantly for them to safely poke their noses out into Earth’s sea air feels like we’re, somehow, all connected by those messages.

Messages like…

Koch: “We will explore. We will build.” She goes on, “We will build ships. We will visit again.” Then, “We will construct science outposts. We will drive rovers.” And, “We will do radio astronomy. We will found companies.” Finally, “We will bolster industry. We will inspire. But ultimately, we will always choose Earth. We will always choose each other.”

Then, Glover: “Trust us, you look amazing, you look beautiful. And from up here, you also look like one thing. Homo sapiens, all of us, no matter where you’re from or what you look like, we’re all one people.“

Hansen: “As we surpass the furthest distance humans have ever traveled from planet Earth, we do so in honoring the extraordinary efforts and feats of our predecessors in human space exploration. We will continue our journey even further into space before Mother Earth succeeds in pulling us back to everything that we hold dear. But we most importantly choose this moment to challenge this generation and the next to make sure this record is not long-lived.”

And lastly, Wiseman: “No matter how long we look at this, our brains are not processing this image in front of us. It is absolutely spectacular, surreal. I know there’s no adjectives. I’m going to need to invent some new ones to describe what we are looking at out this window.”

Our global community and reaching for the stars

The Artemis II mission is, these intrepid explorers have often noted, the outcome of ingenuity and effort be hundreds of people. People working together in concert, across nations. Then putting ingenuity and effort into inspirational execution.

(As I write, mission control has taken the microphone. In the background you can hear the cacophony of humanity working, waiting, expecting, and thinking ahead. Furthermore, even as they await the transport of The Four via army transport helicopters to med support, mission control is already talking about missions yet to come!)

Artemis missions “to the moon and beyond” will be the effort of women and men around the world.

Beyond Artemis II

Jubilation has just broken out at mission control as the first crew member emerged from Integrity. The rousing and inspiring success of this mission will compel the NASA program forward for decades to come.

Our Canadian representative on board, Jeremy Hansen, has proven to be a joyful sage at every grip of the mic. Leading up to departure, and in flight, his commentary has been both playful and evocative. Instructing us to “live in our integrity,” he often notes the Anishinaabe seven sacred teachings (respect, love, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility, truth) that are represented on his flight patch.

These are values we can all lean into, hey? These are the values that pulse through humanity — the very best of who we are in individually, and in community. The very best of who we can be even while our feet are firmly planted on terra firma. Hansen’s gentle challenge to himself, then to his children, and out beyond to all of us, is to live deeply into the best of who we all can be. A sage call to lovingkindness that resounds, now, to the moon and back.

The post Mooning Over Artemis II | We’re All One People appeared first on Donate A Car.

Vehicle donors give BIG for Prostate Cancer

Our first shout out isn’t directly related to Movember, but it strikes right to the heart of this month’s cause! Have you had a chance to read, “A Man, A Mercedes, and A-wareness“? It’s one of hundreds of prized memories of prostate cancer vehicle donations.

Our Mercedes donor’s life was good, business was great and then – Boom. A scheduled trip to the doctor turned into a diagnosis of prostate cancer. The story grows from there.

No excuses | Mercedes donor knows about regular checks!

We all know that we should get our annual exams – female or male. Yet, so often we pass them off as unnecessary. No big deal! That’s where we can start to slide the slippery slope of irresponsibility, right? We would never choose that word for ourselves, but our donor has a message about exactly that.

The day he was diagnosed he’d almost blown off his dreaded annual appointment. He decided he’d better go. Frighteningly, he was sent for further testing. The doctor said it was probably nothing, but it needed to be checked. Again, his natural reaction was to slough it off and try to get out of it. He realized that he was using his busy-ness as an excuse, though. Furthermore, he knew it was a small price to pay in the form of his time, to ensure his future would be bright.

What a sucker punch to hear the ‘C’ word on the other side of the check up. The good news? Early detection meant his survival was pretty certain. Thankfully, that has proven to be the case!

In his words, it’s a stupid disease for a man to die from because it is very treatable if caught early. Men just don’t want to talk about it. It’s embarrassing and degrading so the misconceptions around it are perpetuated instead of being dealt with. Sure, the process can be harsh but the alternative isn’t pretty either.

Inspired by a scary diagnosis, he opted to make a difference for Prostate Cancer Canada

Our donor wanted to up the ante in awareness so men feel compelled to look after themselves. It’s important to him that they get their exams done.

So, he came up with a pretty stellar plan to do just that! His journey inspired him to make a substantial donation to help others in the same situation. His greatest goal, going forward, is to bring awareness about this disease, and to help others realize the importance of early detection.

One of the real life Mad Men

Ron Telpner can surely relate to our Mercedes donor. He shares his story on the Movember Foundation website,

I was one of the original mad men. You know, the infamous three martini lunches, all the toys you could possibly think of, fast cars, a cottage up north and traveling the world. Big clients with big wins. The kind of life many people might want.

But on September 7, 2010, none of that seemed to matter quite as much. I could tell by the way my doctor was looking at me when I went in to get my test results. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Ron goes on to say,

You can’t re-write the script 

When I think about my years in advertising, the anguish I felt when I’d lose a big client and think, “Oh my god, it’s the end of the world.” But it wasn’t. I’d wake up and I was good and I was still getting dressed up for work and I’d find another client. Life is like that. But cancer is different. You can’t rewrite the script. You can’t go back or change course and not have the cancer. I still face health challenges but make every day a good one. So my journey now is this. My journey is to be the same person I’ve always been, with dignity, and now to help others through this journey. I think what cancer has done for me, is to allow me to be myself but only better.

Your moustache makes a difference

(Movember Foundation, Ron Telpner: I Survived Prostate Cancer)

Prostate Cancer Canada, the London Health Sciences Centre,  and Kids Help Phone are some of Movember Canada’s partnering organizations and all three routinely receive gifts through our vehicle donation program.

If this is a cause that is meaningful to you, consider donating to the above, or to the Canadian Cancer Society, Alberta Cancer Foundation, Kids Cancer Care, or CancerCare Manitoba! 

Incidentally, the successful auction sale of the Mercedes drew a donation of over$27,000.00 for Prostate Cancer Canada! Every vehicle counts when you donate for the cause you care about and we can’t wait to work with you for the charity you love.

The post Prostate Cancer Car Donation appeared first on Donate A Car.

Let’s face it. Sometimes life can be so incredibly hard. One day you wake up with the world at your fingertips. Then you get dealt a blow — one you think only happens to others.

That’s exactly what happened to one of our generous donors. Life was good, business was great and then – Boom. A scheduled trip to the doctor turned into a diagnosis of prostate cancer. The story grows from there.

No excuses | Mercedes donor knows about regular checks!

We all know that we should get our annual exams – female or male. Yet, so often we pass them off as unnecessary. No big deal! That’s where we can start to slide the slippery slope of irresponsibility, right? We would never choose that word for ourselves, but our donor has a message about exactly that.

The day he was diagnosed he’d almost blown off his dreaded annual appointment. He decided he’d better go. Frighteningly, he was sent for further testing. The doctor said it was probably nothing, but it needed to be checked. Again, his natural reaction was to slough it off and try to get out of it. He realized that he was using his busy-ness as an excuse, though. Furthermore, he knew it was a small price to pay in the form of his time, to ensure his future would be bright.

What a sucker punch to hear the ‘C’ word on the other side of the check up. The good news? Early detection meant his survival was pretty certain. Thankfully, that has proven to be the case!

In his words, it’s a stupid disease for a man to die from because it is very treatable if caught early. Men just don’t want to talk about it. It’s embarrassing and degrading so the misconceptions around it are perpetuated instead of being dealt with. Sure, the process can be harsh but the alternative isn’t pretty either.

Inspired by a scary diagnosis, he opted to make a difference for Prostate Cancer Canada

Our donor wants to up the ante in awareness so men feel compelled to look after themselves. It’s important to him that they get their exams done.

So, he’s come up with a pretty stellar plan to do just that! His journey has inspired him to make a substantial donation to help others in the same situation. His greatest goal, going forward, is to bring awareness about this disease, and to help others realize the importance of early detection.

How is he underscoring his message? What is his extraordinarily generous plan? He’s donating a Mercedes!

This isn’t just any ol’ Benz.  It is a V12, 500 HP powerhouse that will give any Lamborghini driver a run for his money! The pristine Mercedes Benz S-Series will be auctioned off to the highest bidder on June 21st at Regal Auctions in Calgary, all proceeds going directly to Prostate Cancer Canada.

The ripple effects of giving big

The vehicle donation generosity does not stop there! More than 40 other donated vehicles will be selling on the same day, and each sale will benefit a charity chosen by the vehicle donor.  The kindness of Canadians is over the top as these donations will be a significant contribution to the hundreds of thousands of dollars being sent to charities nationwide via Donate a Car Canada.

Donated vehicles that are re-sale ready are put up for bids. The highest bidder takes the wheels! Sold as-is, the net proceeds from the sale are disbursed to the donor’s charity of choice. Our Mercedes Benz donor will be on pins and needles awaiting the successful sale of his beauty of a car for Prostate Cancer Canada!

Curious about the auction process? Follow the Mercedes online!

Interested in this beauty? Whether you live in the Calgary area or not, you are free to bid on the Mercedes online via LiveBlock on auction day! If you do live in the Calgary region and want to experience the excitement live, please join us! You can discover more information and pertinent details on the Regal Auctions website.

One man’s vision has sparked a fire under us at Donate A Car to do our best in supporting his dream for his Mercedes. Moreover, we will continue to help others across the country donate to their chosen charities in a unique and impactful manner.

June 21^st. Regal Auctions. Calgary. Be there!

UPDATE

Outstanding news! The successful auction sale of this beauty drew a donation of over$27,000.00 for Prostate Cancer Canada!

Feeling inspired to make a difference for the cause you care about? Donating your unused, unwanted vehicle is simple, quick, and free. First, fill in an online donation form. This will take you less than 10 minutes. Then, sit back and wait for your transport agent to call and arrange your free tow. Finally, watch your inbox for your tax receipt. We’ll keep you in the loop throughout the process. Every vehicle counts and your gift can go to any charity in Canada!

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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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A look back at a 2015 vehicle donation adventure!

When Addison Asuchak called in to Donate a Car Canada with an offer to donate his 2001 VW Jetta on behalf of KidSport Canada, we had no idea that we were about to be part of a generous adventure!

Addison is living a big and adventurous life! He travels wide, plays hard, and dreams so big. His generosity of spirit touches everything he does, and in an effort to support a charity that he cares about, he called us to get information on how to go about donating his faithful Jetta on behalf of KidSport Canada.

When a vehicle is donated through Donate a Car Canada (for ANY Canadian charity) we keep things simple. We re-sell, or recycle. Each vehicle is assessed on its own merit. So, we assumed Addison hoped to simply go through that process with his  drivable, good lookin’ VW. So, we provided him the details of our program and offered him  our donation options.

That’s when this KidSport donation took a turn

Addison, with a humorous catch in his voice, asked,

“So,  what if the car were in a slightly different condition than what I’ve  described? Like, what  if it had been hit a few times…with a sledge hammer?”

In a spontaneous effort to support KidSport Canada, Addison had thrown out a massive Facebook appeal. He told his vast network of university and personal connections that with the gift of a donation to the charity, anyone could come and take a swing at his beautiful Jetta – with a sledge hammer! Within a matter of hours he had a typically Canadian response: people were interested! Demolition +  generosity = the perfect January afternoon distraction!

Several hundred people showed up, donations in hand. Addison provided the sledgehammer and the car, and in no time at all $600.00 was raised for KidSport Canada!

Addison’s Volvo had a double impact on behalf of KidSport: it drew the attention and generosity of sledge hammer –wielding

donors at the university, and it garnered the monetary donation that comes with a vehicle recycled through our program here. Addison is a man with energy and courage. We know his generous effort on behalf of KidSport is one small part of his big life. We were thrilled to be a part of it!

Inspired to follow Addison’s lead?

You may not be in the company of dozens of sledge hammer-wielding buddies. But you can still make a tremendous impact with your own vehicle donation. Runnin’ or rusty, every vehicle counts. And every Canadian charity is at-the-ready to receive your gift.

We take care of all of the donation details for the charity. From donation form to tax receipt — and everything in between — we keep it simple. As the donor, it will take just a few minutes to fill in your online form. You will receive emails that keep you apprised of each step of the re-sale or recycling process. Finally, you will receive your tax receipt from your charity of choice via your inbox.

We can’t wait for your own vehicle donation story to unfold!

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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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Elections, Canada, and constructive conversation

It’s time! I can zip downtown to vote (early) in my riding in small-town Alberta today. I’ve just given a listen to some of the English debate. It’s time for me to make a decision about how I will mark my ballot.

I’m a gal from a very specific demographic: 50+ year-old white woman, born and raised in Western Canada. I had the luxury of a middle-class upbringing, including a bit of post-secondary education. A very specific demographic.

I listen to the debates with clear understanding that the bias I hold may be different from the bias of my (dear!) neighbors. Our views are rarely the same. Polarization is boss right now. On all issues, it seems. A dash of hope popped up on one of my neighborhood walks last week. I noticed a lawn sign that jumped out. It read, “There is no room for hate here.” That. How can we, despite our so-many-feelings perspectives, move toward that.

O, Canada!

Elections Canada is doing the work of keeping our democracy chugging along. It’s ok! Insert opinions here, and we’ll make space for them all, right? The fact that we’re all free to have our opinions is gift.

What can we do while the process does what the process does?

So. Many. Things!

Even while we feel a bit off-kilter and unsure of ourselves (and each other…and the whole world), we can continue to be our most beautiful selves.

We can be kind. We can respect one another’s right to think, believe, hope, resist. It’s important to be curious and critical. Building our communities and supporting our front-line workers is necessary. We can buy locally, tip generously, and take loving care of our families.

And we can take care of each other. Even if we don’t see eye-to-eye. Because that’s what Canadians do.

Going bigger

Over the years I’ve benefitted from Elections Canada work. I’ve been a DRO and an RO and other role names I don’t recall. I’ve scrawled my initials across many ballots and wrangled some really (really!) big, angry voters. On one occasion, I even chased — and captured — a dog through one of Western Canada’s busiest polling stations! Not my most graceful (or gracious) moment in doing my civic duty, but certainly my most memorable.

A small kindness that may make a big difference? Thank those who are working for 18-plus hours on election day. They’re going to be counting our votes until late in the night. Not for big bucks. Because they care about this process.

Thousands of charities are yours for the choosing

If you want to go super-big in our aim for being the very best sorts of humans we can be, consider our Canadian charities.

Charities coast-to-coast have been hit hard by…well…by all of The Things. Your vehicle donation (running, or broken down) can make such a difference for any Canadian charity you love!

Our donation form takes less than 10 minutes to fill out (either over the phone – 1-877-250-4904, or via our online form). Your tow is free and usually happens within 1 – 5 business days. And you receive a tax receipt from your chosen charity!

If this sounds like a way that you’d love to care for your country in confusing times, we’re here to keep the process simple, quick, free, and friendly!

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The crew behind the Donate a Car Canada scenes

Donate a Car Canada has just a handful of staff. Our little crew comes from backgrounds in administration, charity work, and media relations. We have worked in business administration, care giving, spiritual care, home making, and janitorial roles.  Between us, we have half a dozen amazing kiddos. Over the years, we have lovingly nurtured all kinds of pets (dogs, cats, turtles, geckos, birds, fish) and any number of strays. Each of us reach into the important world of volunteering in our own ways.

Whether you’re talking with us in person (sharing stories of generosity, loss, or the frustration of a roadside breakdown), or connecting with us by email, we are a team who care very much about you and your personal connection to your gift.

You will get to know some of us by name; others will be working diligently in the background to ensure that your charity is set up to receive your gift, and that your gift is disbursed just so!

You’d think this would be a complicated process, right?

Donate a Car Canada is all about exceptional donor and charity service. The way we deliver that? Well, we like to say that it is actually as easy as 1-2-3!

1. Complete an online donation form (in less than 10 minutes).
2. Wait for your free tow (typically within 1 – 5 business days).
3. Receive a tax receipt from your charity of choice!

Neither you or your chosen charity will every pay for this service. And you did read that right: the charity is all up to you. We can serve any charity in Canada!

This kind of service starts at home.

Taking care of each other first

You know drill: put your own oxygen mask on before you tend the person beside you. That goes for us here at Donate a Car Canada, too.

In order to keep costs low, we all work from home. In fact, we have been a WFH company since the beginning. That’s over two decades of working scattered across the Alberta. This means taking care of each other needs to be done creatively.

We’ve had two of our key staff go down hard to illness this past year. When our crew mates fell sick, the rest of us felt a little helpless. How do you creatively tend your friend when she is out of reach?

This was really put to the test when our boss was under the weather this winter.

Wishing to support her, and hoping to make her life just a wee bit easier, the team collaborated. The best thing we could do to extend TLC? A care package! Delivered right to her door. ‘Sounds simple enough, right? Not exactly…

No good deed, or, Operation Drop-Off

Once co-workers Kirsten and Cory had tackled the building of the care package, Kirsten and our colleague, Marcia, took on delivery of the bundle of treats and nutritious snacks. The drop-off was enroute to another mini-road-trip destination. It only made sense to do a “quick” stop for our beloved employer!

Kirsten recalls,

“The day started out really well! We got on the road at a reasonable time. We even got to stop for food before heading to our drop-off. The boss warned us through text messages that the roads were terrible. She suggested that maybe we shouldn’t go, but we really wanted to. After all, this was a care package full of love! It needed to get to its people to do its job.

We agreed to just take it easy to get ourselves there and if the roads were bad, we’d turn back. But, honestly, the roads were great! Aside from one weirdly icy turn, the roads were pretty solid the whole way. We made it almost the entire way to our destination!

But, then we missed the last turn…

‘Simple mistake with big consequences because we decided to turn around in a “flat” little driveway that just had a “little” snow. Turns out the driveway was not flat. Nor was it lightly snow covered, Furthermore, it was not in the mood to let us get back on our journey quickly.

We ended up on glare ice and couldn’t get ourselves unstuck. I let our so-ill coworker know where we were and that we were just running a little behind. The next thing we know, our boss’s husband (who was also unwell) was pulling up to try to help us out. Such a sweetheart but he was in no condition to be helping push us out. After a few minutes, he went home to get a tow rope, brought back a hitch strap, and I hooked both vehicles up.

Pulling us out led to a near crash and the breaking of the hitch strap itself, but eventually we were all good! We then agreed that it was probably best to give the care package to the boss’s husband, right then and there, and let him go right back home to bed. Marcia and I made our way back to the main road so that we could head to our next stop. So, it was bonkers but it all worked out! Thankfully everyone was okay and the box ‘o’ love made it to its destination!”

Donate a Car Canada staff…post drop-off

The thing about things (literally!) slipping off the road (Oh, the best laid plans do go awry!)? Once they’ve started in that direction, they tend to continue in that direction.

With their journey of care package delivery partly behind them, you would think karma would smile kindly on the delivery driver? Nope! Marcia’s adventures were just beginning.

After safely navigating the next leg of their journey, Kirsten and Marcia arrived at their final destination. A warm hotel! Soft beds soon-to-be sunk into. No more icy patches or snow drifts or busted tow ropes. Or so they thought…

Marcia chimes in,

“I pull into the hotel parking lot and what do I see, you ask? My son’s team coach and team manager pushing a little ol’ Honda that is stuck. In the name of kindness and karma I get out of my car and ask if they need help….”

I mean, the Donate a Car Canada crew are really good-hearted folks!

I just need to interrupt Marcia for a second: this is a gal who just trekked a care package through ice and snow to give a little comfort to a co-worker. And now she’s pausing on her journey again! That’s how our Donate a Car Canada crew rolls in their off-hours!

But back to Marcia,

“Coach hollers, ‘Sure! We could use another hand pushing!’

So off I go to help push.

I am by the wheel of the car and as we start pushing I get a small ice bath from the slush and melt water spitting up at me! Coach decides to change the strategy and we all shift to the other side of the car.

We start pushing and feel the car make a move. At this precise moment I know things are gonna go sideways for me. And yes, yes they did. As the car began to shift, having the short wingspan that I do, it slips from my reach! And me? I lose my balance. I slide half under the car into a slush puddle that is up to my waist.  So there I am sitting in slush thinking, ‘Please don’t let this car roll forward onto me!’

A penguin swim was not in the plans!

The young woman who owns the car is hysterical and freaking out. Coach is trying to help me up. And I am sitting there laughing like a loon! I am unable to get my feet under me as it’s pure ice. Keep in mind the temp is in the minus twenties and the wind is freaking cold.

Once I leave the ice bath I am pretty much instantly frozen. I waddle my way into the hotel (sans glasses as they are ice covered and fogged so I can’t see). I proceed to laugh the entire way through the lobby and up the elevator. Most of those I cross think I have lost my marbles as I am still laughing like a loon.

To top it off? We were not successful in helping the young lady get her car out!”

Your donation is in resourceful and loving hands

Donating a car, truck, van, SUV, or motorcycle through our program is a personal process. The team on this side of your gift is going to keep things moving in a forward direction. No matter what! 9.99 out of 10 donations thrum along without a hitch. Working for Canadian charities for more than 10 years means we have some beautiful process in place. Our agents serve diligently and compassionately across Canada.

Quick, friendly efficiency is our work-a-day normal! But if icy patches and snow drifts and cars stuck in parking lots do get in the way? You can bet we will get it sorted!

The intention, character, and loving kindness that we exercise in our personal time is exactly what we invest in your donation process. Every gift counts. And the charity you are choosing counts, too! You have our guarantee that we will apply our practiced skills, resources, and ample humour to your vehicle donation.

Donate today and meet the team here at Donate a Car Canada!

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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Your spirit of the season may be less Whoville, more Grinch-cave?

The complicated thing about the Christmas month’s “spirit of the season” is that for many this is about just buckling down and getting through it all. We don’t mean to be fussed! But real life can put the squeeze on pretty tight. If our pockets are empty and we feel like we’ve been giving all year? The giving month can feel like it’s all pressure and little pleasure. It’s a time when we feel the sting of lost loved ones. And if we had warm memories from childhood it can feel like an endless chase to capture the sparkly feelings and whimsy that are just so elusive.

Take care of yourself…

Lifehack has some useful help for doing a little spirit of the season self-care. Lifehack Spirit of the season self care to attend to how you might

1. Give yourself permission
2. Involve all of your senses
3. Don’t get caught in the hustle and bustle of the season
4. Do things in moderation
5. Give up expectations

…and do keep tapping into the goodness that is at the heart of you

If you’re finding yourself on our site at this time of year you probably have a vehicle that you need gone. Like, now. It might be taking a much-needed spot on the driveway, and Aunty Beth is going to need to park there. Not only that, Aunty Beth and her beloved Bichon are planning to arrive next week for an extended stay. Just like that, another dash of stress has quashed whatever remaining spirit of the season you were mustering. Don’t worry! We can get your car removed  and the driveway clear in short order. And, while you might not be feeling super give-y at the moment, your charity of choice will be helped!

The donation process is simple, quick, free, and fully holly jolly! First, fill in an online donation form (just click the Rudolph-red button below). Then, sit back and wait for your phone to ring — that will be the tow agent calling to set up your free tow. Finally, just watch your inbox for your charitable tax receipt. One more way to keep the season gentle, generous, and stress-free!

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Dignity, inclusion, safety, and care for all

For almost 20 years we have been at-the-ready to process car, truck, van, SUV, and motorcycle donations for LGBQT2S+ charities and their allies!

This Pride Month is no exception.

It is possible that the charity you love is already on our list of causes receiving car donations. If it’s not, we can correct that in no time. Just let the folks you love know that we have a one-click button right on the website that will connect them to our charities coordinator.

Or, go ahead with your vehicle donation. When you take that generous step, you can simply name the organization you wish to receive the funds from your car. We take care of the rest. That includes adding the charity to our always-growing list so that other donors can gift them, too!

Where do I start in choosing my Pride charity?

If this is a cause that you care about you may wish your gift to go to a very specific work. Here are just a few of the charities we have already set up to receive your care:

• Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
• Durham Alliance Outreach
• G.R.I.S. – Montreal
• Rainbow Resource Centre
• The 519

And that is just a glimpse into the caring works available to you for donation!

Remember, you can also visit CanadaHelps for an encyclopedic list of charities across Canada. You’re sure to find some direction there.

Taking pride in Pride

All are welcome here at Donate a Car Canada. Every human. Every critter. And, of course, every car! Well…almost any car. We do fuss about tires and catalytic converters. And engines are pretty important, too. Whatever the condition of your unused or unwanted four-wheeled masterpiece, consider donating it to the cause you love today. The process is superquick and supergenerous. We can’t wait to serve you soon!

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