GOODWILL STORE EMPLOYEE TO RECEIVE DONATED CAR
GOODWILL STORE EMPLOYEE TO RECEIVE DONATED CAR
Store Associate to Benefit from Nonprofit’s Wheels-to- Work Program
(West Tennessee) — A Lexington Goodwill store employee will receive a donated vehicle through the
nonprofit’s Wheels-to- Work program on July 6 in downtown Nashville. The Wheels-to- Work Program was
established to help Goodwill employees and clients who need reliable transportation to get to work.
Goodwill President and CEO Matthew Bourlakas will present Christine McCrury, a lead sales associate at the
Lexington Goodwill store, with the keys to a used but clean and reliable Audi A4 Quattro at 9 a.m. on
Thursday, July 6. The ceremony will take place at the Goodwill Career Solutions Center at a 937 Herman St.
in Nashville.
WHEELS TO WORK PROGRAM — PRESENTATION OF KEYS
When: Thursday, July 6
9 a.m.
Where: Goodwill Headquarters
937 Herman St.
Nashville, TN
Meet Christine McCrury
In 1966, Christine, then 2, and two of her siblings were the victims in a child neglect case so shocking it was
chronicled by Chicago media. The children’s biological parents, both alcoholics, were charged by authorities
but fled Chicago on bail, and the children were sent to an orphanage. She and her sister were placed with
loving foster parents who eventually adopted them. Christine grew up determined to not only avoid the
mistakes of her biological parents but to also make a difference in the world. After her adoptive family
moved to Tennessee, she worked a number of jobs, including stints helping the homeless at drug and alcohol
rehabilitation centers. She also volunteered with CASA — court-appointed special advocates for children. In
2011 after having her hours cut at another job, she began working for Goodwill. She loves being part of the
nonprofit’s mission of changing lives through education, training and employment. Christine’s manager says
Christine is an excellent employee with the potential to advance in her career. Only one thing is holding her
back: a lack of transportation. Christine and her husband, a pastor at a Lexington church, share just one
vehicle — a van he must use daily for church needs. She says having her own vehicle will give her the
flexibility she needs to advance at work and will improve her life in many ways.
More Information on the Wheels-To- Work Program
Ten people applied to receive a donated vehicle through the Wheels-to- Work program in 2017. A selection
committee made up of Goodwill employees from various departments helped to determine who was eligible
to participate. To qualify for the program, participants had to meet certain qualifications, such as being
employed at least 32 hours, having a valid driver’s license and good driving record.
After being notified of acceptance into the program, participants had to complete training classes on
budgeting, defensive driving and car maintenance. Recipients also pay a $200 administrative fee. Budgeting
classes were provided at no cost by Fifth Third Bank, while the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department
provided the defensive driving classes. One car has already been presented this year.
Several employees remain on a waiting list to receive an automobile through the Wheels-to- Work program.
People who choose to donate vehicles to Goodwill support not only the Wheels-to- Work program but also
Goodwill’s mission of changing lives through education, training and employment. More information can be
found at www.giveit2goodwill.org/vehicles.
About Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee, Inc.
For nearly 60 years, Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee has provided job training and job placement free of
charge to people with disabilities or other barriers to employment through the sale of donated items. In 2016, Goodwill
served more than 43,000 people in Middle and West Tennessee and placed more than 17,000 people in jobs. More
information about Goodwill’s Career Solutions, retail stores and donation centers can be obtained online at
www.giveit2goodwill.org or by calling 1-800- 545-9231.
