Old cars to help kids

AUCTION house Manheim has joined forces with Just Cars magazine to auction off unwanted cars on behalf of charity group Kids Under Cover.

The ‘Donate Your Car’ program aims to raise money for potentially homeless young people by encouraging people to donate unwanted cars, which are then to be auctioned by Manheim with the proceeds going to the charity.

Anyone wanting to get rid of a car that is clogging up the garage or even the back yard is encouraged to de-register the car and fill out a form online (via http://www.justauto.com.au/ dealer/kidsundercover/about-us/). The organisers will organise to have the car collected and auctioned.

Kids Under Cover was started in 1989 and has provided homes for more than 2500 young people in Victoria, Queensland and the ACT, as well as issuing 82 education scholarships to send disengaged young people back to school.

Founding patron of the charity Ken Morgan – a prominent Melbourne car dealer, pictured left – was last year awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his fight against youth homelessness, as well as for the Royal Children’s Hospital and the Variety Club.

Mr Morgan himself was made homeless as a youth in the 1950s after his mother died suddenly and has since dedicated himself to philanthropic interests.

Manheim Australia head of communications and public relations Mathew McAuley said the company was a keen supporter of the program.

“It is a great way for people to get rid of unwanted cars cluttering up front yards or garages – and even for those people with an extra car they no longer need but aren’t sure what to do with or couldn’t be bothered selling privately – and help out a great cause,” he said.

“Obviously it is a natural fit for our company, so naturally we are very happy to be able to handle the vehicle logistics of the program and auction the cars on their behalf.

“It’s a great cause and they do a great job in the community.”

Kids Under Cover is a not-for-profit organisation that responds to the needs of young people at risk of becoming homeless due to extreme conflict or overcrowding within the family home, mental illness, disability, drugs, alcohol or the housing affordability crisis.

It provides fully demountable studios with one or two bedrooms and a bathroom, which are constructed on the grounds of a family or carer’s home, allowing families to stay connected and providing kids with a stable environment in which to grow into healthy adulthood.

These studios are designed to last 15 years and can be relocated up to four times for use by other needy families.