Rock Island, IL - Norma Rogers, 79, of Muscatine, recently donated her 1995 Cutlass Supreme and her motorized wheelchair to a veteran residing at Christian Care's rescue mission in Rock Island. "Mom's now in a retirement home, so she didn't have any use for her car or the scooter anymore," said Rogers' daughter, Lynnette Burns of Muscatine.
"She just wanted to give them away?but she specifically wanted both to go to one veteran. That was very important to her."
According to Burns, the car has only 105,000 miles on it and the wheelchair is only slightly used. She said it took about two months to find a veteran who could use both the car and wheelchair. "Who just gives away a car and scooter in this day and age?" asked Ernie D., the Navy veteran recipient who has been residing at Christian Care since February. "Something like this?it gives you a little perk in life. It (the donation) hasn't caught up with me yet."
Lynnette and her husband Brian contributed to an oil change and an antifreeze change, jumper cables, a water pump, tools, a small air compressor and a fire extinguisher for the vehicle. "Seeing us donate helps our daughters learn how to give back," explained Lynette.
Christian Care is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization operating two facilities?a domestic violence shelter for abused women and children and a rescue mission for homeless men. It serves homeless individuals, victims of domestic violence, veterans, men and women coming out of prison, and those with mental illnesses.
Its community meal site is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner on weekdays Monday through Friday, and for breakfast and dinner on Saturday and Sunday. Breakfast is served at 6:30 a.m., lunch at 12:15 p.m., and dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Anyone in need is encouraged to call Christian Care's crisis hotline any hour of the day at (309) 788-2273 or visit online at christiancareqc.org.
