DONATE OLD VEHICLES FOR A GREAT CAUSE

Special to WTWZ

It may be time to donate that ’84 Mustang that has been sitting in the driveway for ten years. Many properties have vehicles collecting dust in the front yard, but donating these vehicles can make a positive difference. Mercy House Adult and Teen Challenge (MHATC), headquartered in Georgetown, gladly accepts old, rundown vehicles through its Vehicle Donation Program (VDP).

With holidays approaching, it is the season to be thankful and give back. How do vehicle donations help? MHATC repairs and resells each donated vehicle, which then helps fund the ministry.

Many people think donating used vehicles can be a hassle, but donating through the Mercy House Vehicle Donation Program is easy. The organization offers free pickups for all donations, and each donor can receive a tax deduction of at least $500. After a quick phone call or online form, Mercy House contacts potential donors within 48 hours to arrange pick-up. From there, their team evaluates and restores each vehicle to help fund the organization’s recovery initiatives.

MHATC accepts almost any vehicle, including trucks, sedans, motorcycles, four-wheelers, and boats. While donors do not receive payment for donating their vehicles, every contribution directly supports the men striving to rebuild their lives through MHATC’s addiction recovery program.

MHATC’s residential program works to rehabilitate men struggling with addiction to ultimately reunite them with their families. This organization can potentially “restore (more) broken families one man at a time” through its faith-based recovery program. MHATC needs the community to pitch in and donate old vehicles to help more Mississippians battling addiction.

The ministry that would later become Adult and Teen Challenge was founded in 1960 by David Wilkerson, an Assemblies of God pastor who left a rural Pennsylvania church to work on the street among teenage gang members and socially marginalized people in New York City. Wilkerson is also known for authoring “The Cross and the Switchblade” and founding Times Square Church. Teen Challenge started its first residential program in December 1960, in a house in Brooklyn.

MHATC of Georgetown saw Mississippi’s great need and kick-started the program. The 14-month residential program provides men with effective and comprehensive faith-based solutions to life-controlling drug and alcohol problems so they can re-assimilate into society. By applying biblical principles, the organization helps people become mentally sound, emotionally balanced, socially adjusted, physically healthy, and spiritually alive.

MHATC property in Georgetown

Mississippi has experienced a dramatic surge in drug-related fatalities, with overdose deaths increasing by 127% from 2012 to 2023, reaching 702 deaths annually. The state faces a severe opioid crisis driven primarily by fentanyl, which caused 280 deaths in 2021, representing an 18% increase from the previous year.

The latest statistics on addiction in women show that, while men still have higher overall rates of substance use disorder, the gender gap is narrowing. Key trends include a growing need for treatment among pregnant and postpartum women, a faster progression from use to addiction, and higher rates of prescription drug misuse compared to men. 

Despite the high need, Mississippi faces challenges with treatment availability. Many people needing treatment cannot receive it due to long waiting lists and low facility vacancies. This spurred Mercy House Adult and Teen Challenge in Mississippi to take action and do something to help.

Currently, the organization is seeking to grow its addiction-recovery program to include women, an expansion that vehicle donations can help make possible. This new addition will be named Sacred Grove Women’s Program, and they plan to open their doors in January 2026 in Hinds County, MS.  The organization is doing everything possible to fund this expansion, including an annual golf tournament, operating two thrift stores (SuperThrift Pearl and SuperThrift Byram), selling custom-made crosses and signs called Products with a Purpose, and an annual donor dinner. 

“From the development of a new women’s facility to upcoming adventures for the men’s program, there’s so much in motion—and we’re thrilled to share it with you…” says MHATC’s Executive Director, Matt Milliman. “Every donated vehicle represents more than just a tax break or an empty space in your yard. It’s a step toward restoring families and giving people a second chance.”

With Thanksgiving approaching, there has never been a better time to show gratitude than by helping others in need. Mercy House will gladly remove each abandoned vehicle, repair it, resell it, and provide donors with a tax deduction. Mercy House can restore broken family one man at a time through one vehicle donation at a time. Make a difference today and donate.

For more information or to schedule a vehicle donation, visit vehicledonationms.com or call 601-572-7296. Follow the organization or any of its programs on Facebook.

“I had a 1997 Oldsmobile clunker that was broken down, just rusting in my driveway for years. I heard about Mercy House’s VPD program back in 2022 and thought it was a great idea to donate there as a win-win. I could donate it to a great cause while getting it out of my yard. Problem solved while feeling like I could help out in some way,” said Jennifer Burns of Sturgis, MS. “I chose to donate because I believe in the mission of Mercy House. Several family members have struggled with various addictions, and I wanted to support those taking the next steps in battling addictions by supporting Mercy House.”