Clunkers keep Catholic Charities car donation program on hold
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
The auto donation program Bruno Cellucci started at Catholic Charities about a year-and-a-half ago has been taking a hit lately.
Like his other non-profit counterparts across the nation, Cellucci has had to watch as the highly successful "Cash for Clunkers" program ate up used cars that might have been donated to Catholic Charities with gusto.
"Our last donation was in mid-July," Cellucci said in a phone interview the other day. "In June, with people knowing the clunkers program was coming, we only had a handful. It’s been quiet since that program started.
"I’m hoping it is only short term and that once the program is over, people will be back," said Cellucci.
For the short term, Cellucci said, there’s no denying the program has had an impact. "Let’s face it a $400 car is now worth $4,500. All we can give is a tax deduction and that doesn’t compare. When times are hard, folks are motivated by the economy and that’s what we’re seeing now."
Cellucci, who supervises the agency fleet of 160 vehicles, came up with the auto donation system in 2008 in response to requests to calls Catholic Charities was getting from people who wanted to donate their vehicles.
The Catholic Charities program was designed to accept any car – even those that are not drivable – and tow them away at no cost. Thus with one phone call, consumers like myself, were able to unload their old cars, get the highest tax deduction allowable under current IRS regulations and help people in need in the community.
I was attached to the 2001 Neon that had conveyed me without fail for 160,000 miles. From assignments connected with the September 11 terror attacks to family celebrations, "Katharine" – named for Katharine Drexel on whose feast day she was purchased – had been a true and faithful steed.
When her transmission finally failed, I wanted her to come to a worthy end and Catholic Charities’ program seemed just the ticket.
When I first interviewed Cellucci back in March, I was heartened to learn many donors shared the same emotions.
As a long-time car aficionado, Cellucci said he was struck by the number of calls from people so emotionally connected to their old autos that they wanted them to go for a purpose, one that would benefit those in need.
And the donated cars did just that, Cellucci said. Some of the cars sold at auction and generated between $1,000 to $3,000 for the agency’s programs. A few brought in more. A gently used Lexus, for instance, sold for $10,000 which really gave Catholic Charities a boost, Cellucci said.
"The lady who donated the Lexus said she would be very happy if it could benefit Catholic Charities," he said at the time. "We were so happy she chose to give it to us."
Cellucci says that he’s taking a philosophical approach to the affect "Cash for Clunkers" is having on the Catholic Charities program. "If the thinking behind it is green and that it will benefit the environment, then, the benefit outweighs the negatives."
Like me though, he has some concerns about the "Car Allowance Rebate System" law signed by President Obama that mandates the destruction of the engine and transmission of every car turned in.
"I personally would like to see the cars that are really problematic destroyed but the ones that are decent…why destroy them. It’s a very complicated situation."
That being the case, he’s looking forward to the day when the phone starts ringing again, signaling the resurgence of donations. "There are a lot of benefits to our program," Cellucci said. "The obvious is the standard tax donation but we also give you a free pickup. We save people from having to advertise the car for sale or maintain it while they are trying to find a buyer.
"And, the cars either generate money for Catholic Charities, or, if they are in shape for clients, they go on to help people get to work. How do you put a value on that?"
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The auto donation program Bruno Cellucci started at Catholic Charities about a year-and-a-half ago has been taking a hit lately.
Like his other non-profit counterparts across the nation, Cellucci has had to watch as the highly successful "Cash for Clunkers" program ate up used cars that might have been donated to Catholic Charities with gusto.
"Our last donation was in mid-July," Cellucci said in a phone interview the other day. "In June, with people knowing the clunkers program was coming, we only had a handful. It’s been quiet since that program started.
"I’m hoping it is only short term and that once the program is over, people will be back," said Cellucci.
For the short term, Cellucci said, there’s no denying the program has had an impact. "Let’s face it a $400 car is now worth $4,500. All we can give is a tax deduction and that doesn’t compare. When times are hard, folks are motivated by the economy and that’s what we’re seeing now."
Cellucci, who supervises the agency fleet of 160 vehicles, came up with the auto donation system in 2008 in response to requests to calls Catholic Charities was getting from people who wanted to donate their vehicles.
The Catholic Charities program was designed to accept any car – even those that are not drivable – and tow them away at no cost. Thus with one phone call, consumers like myself, were able to unload their old cars, get the highest tax deduction allowable under current IRS regulations and help people in need in the community.
I was attached to the 2001 Neon that had conveyed me without fail for 160,000 miles. From assignments connected with the September 11 terror attacks to family celebrations, "Katharine" – named for Katharine Drexel on whose feast day she was purchased – had been a true and faithful steed.
When her transmission finally failed, I wanted her to come to a worthy end and Catholic Charities’ program seemed just the ticket.
When I first interviewed Cellucci back in March, I was heartened to learn many donors shared the same emotions.
As a long-time car aficionado, Cellucci said he was struck by the number of calls from people so emotionally connected to their old autos that they wanted them to go for a purpose, one that would benefit those in need.
And the donated cars did just that, Cellucci said. Some of the cars sold at auction and generated between $1,000 to $3,000 for the agency’s programs. A few brought in more. A gently used Lexus, for instance, sold for $10,000 which really gave Catholic Charities a boost, Cellucci said.
"The lady who donated the Lexus said she would be very happy if it could benefit Catholic Charities," he said at the time. "We were so happy she chose to give it to us."
Cellucci says that he’s taking a philosophical approach to the affect "Cash for Clunkers" is having on the Catholic Charities program. "If the thinking behind it is green and that it will benefit the environment, then, the benefit outweighs the negatives."
Like me though, he has some concerns about the "Car Allowance Rebate System" law signed by President Obama that mandates the destruction of the engine and transmission of every car turned in.
"I personally would like to see the cars that are really problematic destroyed but the ones that are decent…why destroy them. It’s a very complicated situation."
That being the case, he’s looking forward to the day when the phone starts ringing again, signaling the resurgence of donations. "There are a lot of benefits to our program," Cellucci said. "The obvious is the standard tax donation but we also give you a free pickup. We save people from having to advertise the car for sale or maintain it while they are trying to find a buyer.
"And, the cars either generate money for Catholic Charities, or, if they are in shape for clients, they go on to help people get to work. How do you put a value on that?"
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