Working Wheels nonprofit the victim of vandalism

Julie Beck, left, executive director of Working Wheels for Working Families, presents Sherryl Henderson with the keys to her new-to-her car in 2014.
Julie Beck, left, executive director of Working Wheels for Working Families, presents Sherryl Henderson with the keys to her new-to-her car in 2014.

A local nonprofit agency is asking for help after being hit by vandalism.

Paul and Julie Beck founded Working Wheels for Working Families in September 2013. The organization repairs and provides donated vehicles to low-income families so they may gain or maintain employment.

Over the weekend, Paul Beck discovered someone had broken into four of the vehicles they were working on. The vehicles are kept at a lot on West Edgewood Drive with a locked gate protecting the entrance.

"They busted out windows, ripped out ignitions and tried to hot wire the vehicles," he said. "They were unsuccessful in getting those, but they did manage to steal a van we were working on."

Beck said they made a police report, and the van is now listed as stolen.

"Hopefully that person was in need, but they now have committed a crime. And if they're caught, they'll have to deal with the law," he said. "It's surprising to us that it happened. We are tying to help get vehicles in the hands of families in need, and this has set us back. It's created a challenge for us."

Beck said the cost to a family for a vehicle from the nonprofit is typically low. Working Wheels for Working Families does require recipient families to buy in, but now they have to figure out how to offset the cost of the repairs to the vandalized vehicles.

"If we can't move them and have them towed to get them repaired, we're easily talking $400-600 a vehicle, and typically, once we do our normal repairs, that's the amount we would charge to a family that needs a car," he said. "The car would have a safety inspection, good tires put on, etc. This is a nonprofit, and that's how we operate. Now this vandalism comes along, and these vehicles are probably not worth anything but scrap."

The program helps people at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level who work at least 30 hours a week, or 25 hours if they're students.

Families are screened through a review process, which also determines vehicle needs. Selected recipients must successfully complete training in job skills, money management and vehicle maintenance. They may have the opportunity to be matched with a lender for a low-interest loan.

So far, the program has assisted 25 families in need.

Beck said they continue to take donations of usable vehicles, which they pick up at no charge, and monetary donations are always helpful.

"After what we've gone through now, we are looking for a more secure location to store vehicles," he said. "If we have to rent a place, that gets into funds. So if someone has a secure place, that would be helpful. Something like a small warehouse where people can come to help work on the vehicles. We've got volunteers willing to come in and clean up cars. We are reaching out to Realtors but haven't found anything yet. A secure location will take us to the next level."

More information about Working Wheels for Working Families is available at ww4wf.com. For more information or to make donations, contact at [email protected] or 573-691-3653.