Habitat for Humanity celebrates Earth Day

Putnam County Habitat for Humanity is celebrating Earth Day 2009 by recycling donated cars to help build homes in partnership with low-income families in need of housing.

Habitat's Cars for Homes™ accepts donated cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, RVs and other vehicles and sells them through automobile auctions, recyclers or salvage yards to raise funds that help build simple, decent homes. Funds generated from vehicle sales benefit Putnam County Habitat for Humanity and local families.

"In celebration of Earth Day, we are inviting supporters to help eliminate substandard housing and homelessness by recycling their old vehicles," said Marcia Rundle, director Habitat's Cars for Homes™. "The proceeds from car donations help purchase building materials and result in homes built in partnership with families in need of decent shelter."

Approximately 75 percent of a car's content can be recycled. Every year, roughly 14 million cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, snowmobiles, trailers and recreational vehicles find new life as recycled material.

Donors can call Habitat for Humanity's Cars for Homes™ toll-free number or process their car donation online. Donor contact, title and vehicle information is collected and, upon acceptance of the donation, arrangements are made for the vehicle to be picked up for processing. Habitat for Humanity receives between 78 percent and 82 percent of the sales proceeds after towing fees and other expenses. Donors receive an acknowledgement letter for their car donation and can check with the Internal Revenue Service or their tax advisor for information on the tax deductibility of their donation.

For more information on the Cars for Homes™ car donation program or to donate a car, truck, boat or RV to help Habitat for Humanity build homes for families in your local community, call 1-877-277-HFHI (4344) toll free or visit www.carsforhomes.org