Longtime volunteer, donor, and friend to Good News Garage, Ed Stowe is always up for a road trip. He has logged hundreds of hours picking up donated cars throughout New England although his volunteer efforts don’t stop there. Stowe has helped answer phones, process donations, sit on committees, and staff events for Good News Garage (GNG) for over 15 years. 

 

So when a donor in Grayson, Georgia contacted GNG and wanted to donate his 1967 Mustang staff knew just who to call. Ed’s bags were packed a week later and he was greeted at the airport in Atlanta by Tim, the proud owner of “Old Yeller”. 

 

Tim’s Mustang had been in the family since it was brand new, over 45 years ago and had been passed down from father to son. His decision to donate the Mustang was not an easy one, but after discussions with his family and research on car donation charities, Tim found Good News Garage online and decided it was the right choice. Because of GNG’s unique mission to provide wheels to work for low-income families, he chose GNG. Many reputable charities wholesale every vehicle they receive and hire a third-party for-profit business to process their donations; these processing companies may charge up to 70 percent of the vehicle’s selling price in fees. Tim recognized the difference in Good News Garage- repairing as many donated vehicles as possible to provide to local families in need- and gave GNG a call.

 

Tim said goodbye to Old Yeller after passing on some stories and details for Ed to bring with him back to Vermont and only an hour after Ed landed in sunny Georgia, he was behind the wheel and headed north. Except for the fact that the car had no heat (and New England was having a cold snap with temperatures well below zero!) the trip went smoothly. Ed drove it for 1,138 miles from Georgia, to South and North Carolina, through Virginia and Washington DC, to Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. He crossed into Vermont almost 60 hours and three days later. Despite cold hands and feet, Ed still had good things to say: “The car is in great shape, inside and out! It drew a lot of attention on the way up from other drivers and a very interested toll booth operator. I really enjoyed the drive.”

 

Old Yeller is now occupying a space at the Good News Garage in Burlington where it will be sold as a fundraiser for GNG. Proceeds from the mustang will cover costs of repairs and parts needed to match another donation with a working family. 

 

Thank you Tim for your generous donation, and for choosing Good News Garage. And thank you Ed, as always, for your tireless dedication and enthusiasm!