Motor Mania!!

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Stop by Motor Mania Car Show(http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/motormania) and check out the Good News Garage NH "Donate a car...Change a life!" booth. Good News Garage NH volunteer and car donor, Trudy, will be handing out Good News Garage goodies and distributing information on how the Good News Garage "wheels to work" program provides refurbished, donated cars, vans and trucks to local families in need.

Good News Garage NH receives grants from NH Women's Fund

Good News Garage NH is honored to be the recipient of two grants from the New Hampshire Women's Fund. The initial Women's Fund/Good News Garage NH grant is providing donated and refurbished cars to four NH women in need. Pictured above is Theresa standing next to her donated van awarded to her through this grant.

The most recent Women's Fund grant is allowing Good News Garage NH to launch a vehicle repair fund to assist working New Hampshire women who own a car but are unable to afford the necessary repairs to keep their cars road-worthy and running safely.

For most New Hampshire residents, our cars are our lifelines to the world. A vehicle provides a means to get back and forth to work creating the financial resources necessary to obtain food, housing and medical care as well as opportunities for educational and cultural enrichment. Life is a struggle without a reliable car. Good News Garage NH is grateful to the NH Women's Fund for their continued support of our "wheels to work" mission that provides reliable donated cars to NH families in need. To support our mission, please donate a car, van or truck to Good News Garage NH or tell a friend or relative to donate a car. Good News Garage: Donate a car...Change a life!

Bishop's Charitable Assistance Fund supports Good News Garage NH

Standing behind a Good News Garage NH donated car: Bob Buckley, Good News Garage NH program director, Trudy Sutherland, Good News Garage advisory board member and Fred Kfoury, Jr., Bishop's Charitable Assistance Fund board member.

Good News Garage is honored to be the recipient of a grant from the Bishop's Charitable Assistance Fund which is a not-for-profit organization within the Catholic Church in New Hampshire. The Fund enables the Bishop of Manchester, through a board of directors, to make grants to not-for-profit organizations without regard to religious affiliation for projects that help people in New Hampshire meet their basic needs. This grant will allow Good News Garage NH to a launch a car repair fund to serve deserving, working New Hampshire residents.

"While Good News Garage typically provides transportation services through our Donated Wheels program that serves families by providing reliable donated cars to New Hampshire families in need, we are excited about expanding our services to include vehicle repairs," said Bob Buckley, Good News Garage NH program director.

Those interested in applying for car repair services you must meet Good News Garage NH JumpStart requirements (http://www.goodnewsgarage.org/Apply/New-Hampshire.aspx) and must provide a written repair estimate for the car. For more information, contact the Good News Garage NH office at: 603.669.6937.

Dine with Good News Garage at the Texas Roadhouse this Monday!

Yippie! Yahoo! Texas Roadhouse is going to give 10% of the food purchased on Monday, May 24 to Good News Garage! They are located at Taft Corners in Williston, Vermont and will be open 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. on that day. PLEASE bring a copy of this blog to verify that you are eating there, not only for the steak, but to support Good News Garage.

The money raised will go to repair donated cars, trucks, and vans that we provide to qualified Vermont families.

Donate a car...Change a life!

Visit the Donate a car...Change a life! Booth at the Portsmouth NH Sustainability Fair

Good News Garage NH will have a booth at the Portsmouth Sustainability Fair this Saturday, May 8th. Donating a car to Good News Garage NH is a great way to recycle an older vehicle and help a local family in need. In addition to accepting donated cars, Good News Garage NH will also accept donations of gently-used good car tires and new anti-freeze, motor oil and windshield washer fluid. All donations to Good News Garage qualify for a tax deduction. For more information on the Portsmouth Sustainability Fair: http://portsmouthsustainabilityfair.org/ I hope to see you there!

Good News Garage NH "Green" Car Tips

Good News Garage loves red, blue, black, yellow and even multi-colored cars, but our favorite cars are “green!” When you think and drive “green,” you take better care of your car. Proper maintenance and sensible driving will prolong the life of your car and help the environment too. When it’s time for a change, think “green” again and recycle your car through Good New Garage — donate a car to Good News Garage NH and change someone’s life.

Good News Garage’s Top Ten “Green” Car Tips

Keep your car’s engine running at peak performance by getting regular engine tune-ups. A well-tuned engine has more power, uses less fuel and develops less engine wear than a poorly-tuned engine. A misfiring spark plug can reduce fuel efficiency as much as 30 percent.

Have your car’s air conditioner serviced by a technician certified to handle and recycle refrigerants. Improperly handled refrigerants can release ozone-depleting chemicals into the environment.

Purchase extended-life antifreeze. Most extended-life coolants do not contain conventional antifreeze which can be abrasive to water pump seals.

Take used or damaged car batteries to auto stores that stock or repair lead-acid batteries and properly dispose of engine fluids and tires. A single quart of used motor oil can pollute thousands of gallons of water. Antifreeze poured on the ground can poison wildlife or pets.

Improve gas mileage by removing roof-top luggage carriers which increase air drag and decrease fuel-efficiency; use cruise control when practical, and remove unnecessary items from your vehicle which can add weight.

Avoid driving with a lead foot. Fast starts and heavy braking increase gas consumption and put extra wear and tear on your vehicle’s mechanical systems.

Keep your tires property inflated and aligned and you can improve your gas mileage by more than 3 percent. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer. Misaligned or unbalanced tires will cause uneven wear and tear.

Return used tires to retailers or wholesalers that recycle or retread them. If they still have some life left in them, Good News Garage will gladly accept donations of tires and other car-related items such as unused antifreeze, oil, window cleaner, car mats and jumper cables.

Replace your car’s filters and fluids as recommended in the owner’s manual. You can improve your gas mileage by up to 2 percent by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil.

Good News Garage is the ultimate recycling solution for cars, vans, trucks, mopeds, RVs and even boats! Every car that Good News Garage provides has been donated and every car donation qualifies for a tax deduction ranging from $500 to the vehicle’s fair market value — an amount that can be significantly greater than a dealer trade-in. Good News Garage will pick up or tow your donated car, van or truck free of charge.

Since 1996, Good News Garage has accepted, repaired and “recycled” more than 3,500 donated cars by providing them to qualified families in need. For more information about Good News Garage NH or to donate a car, visit on-line: http://www.GoodNewsGarage.org/ or call toll-free: 877.448.3288. Good News Garage: Donate a car…Change a life!

Earth Day is April 22!

Take a minute on Earth Day to review these money-saving pollution-reducing tips from your friends at Good News Garage.

Donate a car...Change a life!