Bucks County Philanthropist Donates $10K To Wheelz2Work Program

DOYLESTOWN, PA — The Wheelz2work Program which is helping low-income residents return to the workforce received a $10,000 grant this week from the Gene and Marlene Epstein Humanitarian Fund.

Wheelz2Work is operated by the Bucks County Opportunity Council (BCOC), in partnership with Bucks County Community College and the Epstein Humanitarian Fund and support from Univest Financial.

Vehicles that are donated to BCOC are then given to low-income families enrolled in its Economic Self-Sufficiency (ES) Program who need safe, reliable private transportation for work or school.

The funds will enable BCOC to pay for the repairs and inspection of approximately 10 cars to make them safe and reliable for ES participants. Each donated vehicle averages about $900 in repairs and transfer fees.

“There is no better way to help someone on their way to economic independence than helping them get their own car,” said Gene Epstein. “Wheelz2Work changes lives for generations.”

The Wheelz2Work and the Economic Self-Sufficiency program change lives for those who have been derailed from pursuing additional training, job interviews or have been unable to apply for higher-paying jobs at a greater distance from home because of unsafe or unreliable transportation.

While BCOC is close to accepting its 100th donated vehicle, Wheelz2Work, since its inception has changed more than 500 lives. There are approximately 20 families currently awaiting a vehicle through the program.

BCOC is the only agency in this region that directly provides vehicles to local families, so donating a car has a significant, direct impact on our Bucks County neighbors in need.

“Tears, happy dances, and sighs of relief are just a few ways ES participants celebrate being handed keys to their very own vehicle,” said Erin Lukoss, Executive Director/CEO of BCOC.

As the lead anti-poverty, non-profit agency in Bucks County, the mission of BCOC is to reduce poverty, and partner with the community to promote economic self-sufficiency. BCOC is a member of the nationwide Community Action Association network, the authority on addressing poverty in our communities.

For more than 57 years, BCOC has served low-income families in Bucks County by helping them to stabilize when in crisis, garner resources to achieve a livable wage, gain additional education and training, and work towards economic self-sufficiency.

For details on how to participate in the Wheelz2Work Program, visit wheelz2work.com or contact Eileen Hartnett Albillar at BCOC, 215-345-8175, ext. 209 or email ealbillar@bcoc.org.