Borrower Testimonials

Green Bay, WI

Pictured above is Amy Kroll at the Family Services of NE WI's media kick-off event with her new car that she bought with help from the Ways to Work loan program. Also pictured is Rashad Cobb, Loan Coordinator and Meika Burnikel, Program Manager.

Green Bay Press Gazette - Green Bay,WI,USA
Through Ways to Work — a program aimed at helping working, low-income families become self-sufficient through loans for vehicle purchases and auto repairs ...

http://www.familyservicesnew.org/WaysToWork.htm

Arlington, TX

Pictured above is Wes Jurey, President & CEO of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce and Arlington Chamber Foundation speaking to representatives of the university and corporate community leaders during the Arlington Ways to Work Press Conference held on Wednesday, June 20, 2007.

Also pictured above on the left is Brandee Trimmier with her Taurus, the car that she bought with help from the Arlington loan program. On the right is Tammi Davis with her Grand Prix.

http://www.arlingtontx.com

Milwaukee, WI

A New Path!

Ways to Work helps community members across the country travel a new path. Cassandra Reeves reminds us of this truth. After knocking on many doors that were closed to her, Cassandra knocked on Social Development Commission’s (Milwaukee, WI) and received a Ways to Work loan that helped to put her on a new path.

With sincere appreciation and a renewed since of hope, she said: I am setting up (a plan of action) with Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Milwaukee to get as much of my unsecured debt and collections paid off. I am starting a new lease on being in control of my finances and my debts. Many times several doors may close but there is one that will open and rain a multitude of opportunity down if we let our hearts be open to chance. Nothing is impossible. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your Ways to Work program.

Cassandra, Thank you!

http://www.cr-sdc.org/Programs/WaysToWork.html

Langhorne, PA

Recent families who received a car and budgeting help in our Ways to Work program.

http://www.fsabc.org/adult/waystowork.html

Eagelville, PA

Stephanie Moman is all smiles as she poses in the van she was able to purchase with a Ways to Work car loan. (Right) Andrew Cohen of Fred Beans of Doylestown helped Stephanie with the selection of her new vehicle.

http://www.fsmontco.org/w2w.htm

Eagelville, PA

Orpha Powell proudly shows off the Chevy Lumina she was able to purchase thanks to a Ways to Work car loan.

http://www.fsmontco.org/w2w.htm

San Mateo, CA

Buying a mini-van has improved Georgina Castañeda's family's life tremendously and she has been inspired to tell others about the program. Now that she has a reliable car, she saves two hours on her daily commute time and has increased her income by finding a full time job. In Georgina's words, "Life has become a lot easier." She finds the people at SMCU [San Mateo Credit Union] very helpful and with her higher income has opened savings accounts there for herself and her daughter, as well as an IRA. Thanks to the money she saved in her account, this past Christmas Georgina took her children on their first vacation ever ... to Disneyland. According to Georgina, "I always dreamed of taking the kids there but never would have thought I could do it alone. Thank you SMCU and Ways to Work -- you changed my life."

http://www.familyserviceagency.org/familyLoanCenter.htm

St. Louis, MO

To the Loan Committee and the Staff at the Ways to Work Program:

I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me the opportunity to reestablish my credit and taking a chance on me when no one else would. I can't express my gratitude for this on paper. I wish you could have seen the smiles on my children's faces when I told them I got the loan. I want to send a thousand thanks to you for this opportunity.

Sincerely,
The Tallie Family

Eagelville, PA

Lex,

Thanks for everything and your patience especially! I feel like a Whole New Person, with my new van. May God Bless you and your program to continue to help change lives.

Love ya,
The Santiago Family
2005

http://www.fsmontco.org/w2w.htm

St. Louis , MO

Bridgette Carter (middle) was all smiles last week when she dropped by Yalem to show her Chrysler Sebring to staffers Allona Morris and Darren Henderson. She happened to be one of the latest Ways to Work clients who was able to purchase the car, thanks to a low-interest loan available through the program. Ways to Work helps eligible low-income working parents who need to get to work with small, low-interest loans to buy a car or pay for repairs. There are now about 50 active loans through the program.

"Bridgette Gets a Car." CEO Notes 19 Jan. 2006, Provident, Inc.'s weekly electronic newsletter.

Akron, OH

Recently, our family returned to Akron, Ohio. All of our finances were utilized to secure a safe trip across the country. We were starting over. Although our only family vehicle made it nearly 3,000 miles, shortly after our arrival a major repair was needed, which cost more than the car was worth.

My wife, a full-time student, and I were using whatever means necessary to get her to school and myself to work to ensure we could support our 6 children. We did not have anything close to "good" credit and were becoming more and more frustrated with being turned down for traditional loans through car lots and banks.

A close friend of ours told us about a program designed to help people like us. We made an appointment, answered a few questions during our interview, and found out that we were approved for a car loan!

Within 1 week, my family was able to take home the kind of car we had always dreamed of owning!!!! AND not only was the worry of transportation gone, but we were even shown how to better manage our finances!

Thank you Ways to Work for helping us secure a vehicle!
The Wilson Family

http://www.greenleafctr.org/wtw.asp

Akron, OH

The Ways to Work program has helped us to get a vehicle when it was not even an option. Now that we have a vehicle we have more options and possibilities that we didn't have before. We are thankful that there is such a program and the people that are involved with the program are kind and helpful. This program I hope will spread all over Ohio and the U.S. and continue on for years to come.

The Masters Family

http://www.greenleafctr.org/wtw.asp

Akron, OH

I want to write this to tell you how much the following program has helped me. What I am referring to is Ways to Work. This program made it so I did not have to call a taxi to get myself to work and take my two boys to daycare. It also made it so I could go to the store, doctor's appointment and do daily duties without disturbing loved ones lives. It also made it so that I could spend quality time with my boys. This includes such things as going to the park, swimming and doing other activities that they enjoy. Thank you very much for providing this program for me. This has helped me more than this letter can express. This program has and will help a great deal of single mothers and fathers.

Sincerely,
The Blevins Family

http://www.greenleafctr.org/wtw.asp

Allentown, PA

When I moved to the Pocono Mountain area three years ago I had no idea that the transmission in my car of two years would fail. Shortly after this incident, I accepted a job in Allentown with no way to get back and forth to work. I saw a pamphlet with the Ways to Work Program’s name on the front and thought to myself this is exactly what I needed. At that point I called Dawn Washington and explained my current situation to her. She told me that the Ways to Work Program would be able to help me. I was so relieved when she told me that because it was very difficult to work in Allentown without a reliable way of getting there.

After I forwarded all of my necessary paperwork to Dawn, I waited for a response for loan approval. The whole entire process of finding and getting approved for the loan was exceptionally quick. Additionally, I believe it was a smooth process because of Dawn Washington. She was always kind, courteous, and genuinely caring to my husband and I. Moreover, she always responded to any problem I had in a timely fashion.

Finally, I am very grateful to the Ways to Work Program for helping my husband and I get to work and transport our family of five.

The Ross Family

http://www.familyanswers.org/prgm_waystowork.html

Allentown, PA

I am writing this letter to express my gratitude for the help that we received from the Ways to Work program. Over two years ago we had a van that died leaving us with no transportation and not enough money to purchase another one. We had no family to turn to for any type of help and nobody would give us a loan. I had just started a new job and was faced with the dilemma of not having a way to get there. We were referred to the Ways to Work program and that is how we met one of the most wonderful human beings that we have ever come in contact with. (Dawn Washington) She was the only one that took the time to listen to us, work with us, and understand our situation. We knew in our hearts that we would pay back the loan but getting someone else to believe us was the problem, that is where the Ways to Work program and Dawn Washington helped us at one of our most desperate times of need. With 4 children the last thing we could afford was for me to lose my job. We think the program is one of the most understanding, helpful, and caring programs that we have ever came across. We have come so far since the help that we received from the program and for that we are eternally grateful. Once again we would like to express our deepest gratitude to you Dawn and the Ways to Work program.

God Bless the Ways to Work program and Dawn Washington.

Gratefully Yours,
The Painter Ohl Family

P.S. The world would be a better place if everybody were as caring and helpful to those that are less fortunate, as you are.

http://www.familyanswers.org/prgm_waystowork.html

Canton, OH

Dear Robin & Staff,

I would like to take the time to thank yourself and staff for allowing me the opportunity to obtain a car loan to become a more self reliable mother and employee. I guess I should start where it all began. I was referred to your agency thru the help of a program which unfortunately no longer exists to help individuals with difficulties find a job which would work around the persons needs. I am the single mother of two beautiful children ages 12 and 5. My 12 year old was diagnosed with ADHD, Bipolar, Oppositional Defiant Syndrome and Tourettes Syndrome. Finding an employer to work around that fact that I would receive numerous phone calls from the school would be a nightmare however, my job coach helped me find a dentist in Massillon that was willing to try. The other challenge I had was I did not have transportation and relied on SARTA [Stark Area Regional Transit Authority] to drive me to daycare to drop off my son, catch another bus to take my daughter to school and then walk to work from there. My job coach heard about your program Ways to Work and I was scheduled for an interview within a week. I met with Robin Seemann (my savior from public transportation!) we came up with a plan to save money and make a car payment affordable on $6.00 an hour. I obtained a car loan and just let me sum up over the 24 months of having this vehicle what it has done. I was able to find a better job making double of what I was originally making. I paid off my car loan and was able to finance a 2003 Toyota Corolla! I love this car being the fact that I have never had a brand new car and I did this all on my own. I can not say thank you enough because if it wasn't for your agency I would still be struggling to get to work and take my kids to school and daycare. Your agency is a true blessing.

Thank you,
The Mayle Family

http://www.trilliumfs.org/16

This page was last reviewed on 03/27/2008.