The Importance of Transportation
In the United States, car ownership and economic success go hand in hand. A recent study by Dr. David A. King makes the argument that car access plays a key role in allowing Americans to lift themselves out of poverty.
Car ownership is also strongly correlated with better health outcomes. In a study of families in 12 Western North Carolina counties, Dr. Thomas Arcury found that those who were able to drive themselves were able to see their healthcare providers twice as often as those who were not.
Anecdotally, we know that vehicles from Working Wheels allow our program participants to work more hours, choose from a wider selection of available housing options, take themselves and their families to appointments, and spend more time with their loved ones.
Discounted Vehicle Repairs: Supporting Stability
In a May 2021 study by the Federal Reserve entitled Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2020, researchers found that more than one-fourth of American adults had one or more bills that they were unable to pay in full that month or were one $400 financial setback away from being unable to pay them. The percentages were even higher for Black and Latino households.
A discounted vehicle repair from Working Wheels means that money can be saved or designated for other family needs. It also means that the program participant can continue to go to work, attend classes, take family members to medical appointments, and continue down the path toward realizing their full potential.
A study in the Journal of Planning Education and Research shows that owning a car is among the most powerful economic advantages a U.S. family can have. A dependable car leads to more time spent at work and home. More time at work increases the family’s income. More time at home means more time for exercise, school events, family meals, and an overall better environment for children’s learning and well-being.
In an article from January 2021 in the NC Medical Journal entitled, “Centering Equity and Community in the Recovery of the Covid-19 Pandemic,” the authors point out that “this pandemic has revealed that health is not just about healthcare; it is about housing, transportation, food access, and educational opportunity. It is about the duality of essential workers being dubbed essential, yet policies failing to protect them… It is about the ability to be employed without experiencing a heightened risk to the health of one’s family.”
Working Wheels Makes a Difference
Working Wheels has a measurable impact on the lives of working families in Western North Carolina.
In our most recent survey of Vehicle Purchase Program participants,
Your support increases these positive outcomes. Join us in helping WNC families improve their lives.
Donate Money to the Parts and Repair Fund
Make a real difference in the life of a local community member by covering a portion of the costs to provide a dependable car.
Donate Now
Please click on the link above to donate by credit/debit card or PayPal.
If you prefer to give by check, please mail to:
Working Wheels
76 Weaverville Road,
Asheville, NC 28804
Volunteer
Donate your time. We need your help! Skills of many varieties are appreciated, including:
- Administrative
- Drivers
- Mechanics