Meet Caryn (below)! She and her husband have been connected to Portland Rescue Mission (PRM) for several years. Over the years, they’ve donated a few used vehicles to Drive Away Hunger. They even purchased a car they desperately needed during a challenging season.
Caryn donating her 2021 Toyota Camry to Drive Away Hunger.
Back in October, and many cars later. Caryn’s husband had an injury and was having difficulty getting in and out of his 2021 Toyota Camry, so they decided a change was needed. This change involved them donating the gently used Toyota to Drive Away Hunger.
Our mechanics inspected it and found it needed no repairs or tune-ups. The pictures were taken, the listing was written, and the price was decided. However, just as the “Post Listing” button was about to be pressed, a different couple (below), who had also donated previously and loved our mission of “Giving Hope” and “Restoring Life”, walked through the doors of Drive Away Hunger looking for a new car. They said they saw the Toyota on the lot and thought it could be right for them.
They took it for a test drive, loved it, and bought it! Their purchase provided over $20,000 worth of meals and addiction recovery resources for the men and women in our comprehensive short- and long-term programs.
Couple purchasing 2021 Toyota Camry from Drive Away Hunger.
These stories, like those of Caryn and her husband, demonstrate the transformative power of our mission at PRM and reflect the profound impact that our guests and program participants experience. For instance, someone in our program may find complete restoration, but the transformation doesn’t end there—they are empowered to become advocates for others in need. Another may find healing, breaking the cycle of addiction in their family and shaping a brighter future for their children for generations to come.
It’s these small yet significant moments of making a decision…and then sticking around to see the ripple effect, impacting one person after another.
Cycles of generosity can and will break the cycles of addiction, hunger, and homelessness—one life (and one car) at a time.