ATLANTA--The St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVDP) has begun a new "Wheel Appeal" fund raiser, accepting donations of used cars, trucks, mobile homes, motorcycles and RVs to be converted into cash assistance for people in need.

The project is being implemented in partnership with another organization, Charity Auto Donations. Potential donors call the Society and provide information on the vehicle to be donated. They will then be contacted by Charity Auto Donations who will schedule an appointment to pick up the vehicle. The organization resells the vehicles, which are not required to run properly, but which much possess Georgia titles and proper paperwork.

The Society will receive 70 to 80 percent of the funds depending on the resale value and donors will receive a tax deduction for the standard blue book value of the vehicle. All funds received will support the SVDP ministry.

Nancy Sestak, development director of the Society, noted that if a car is in poor condition a donor may receive a higher value from the blue book price as a tax deduction than they would by selling it.

"They get the blue book value versus the market value," said Sestak. "They get rid of a car that might not be worth so much on a trade-in."

The program is very successful in other parts of the country for SVDP, she added. "It's an opportunity for people to help others while they help out themselves."

For the past 10 years the Society has directly accepted and occasionally donated to those in need properly running cars which were delivered to SVDP. Sestak said that the more formalized program will save the Society time and money and enable them to accept a wider variety of running and non-running vehicles.

The money raised through "Wheel Appeal" will support the SVDP mission to provide temporary, emergency assistance to people in need in the Atlanta area to help them gain financial stability. Services provided include food, clothing, housing assistance, utility assistance, medications, furniture and burials. For information or to donate call the Society at (404) 892-2702.