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Donated minivan puts mother in driver's seat
By Tenisha Waldo
Sunday, November 18, 2007
When he was drunk, he hit her. When he didn't get his way, he hit her. And then he'd apologize and threaten that she'd better not call the police.
For years, Trina Pearson survived an abusive relationship, until finally, she decided to get out. She fled from her home in New York to Beaufort. But he followed her there. "It seemed like I never had freedom when he was around," she recalled.
In 2004, after a failed attempt to work things out with her boyfriend, Pearson said she came to Charleston, where she sought help at a local shelter for victims of domestic violence.
Nowadays, Pearson said she is growing to be more independent. She is raising four girls on her own in downtown Charleston. She admits she has her weak moments, though, such as when her car broke down about a month ago.
On Saturday, help came jingling Pearson's way when she was tossed the keys to a free refurbished van donated by Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts and Charity Cars, a national nonprofit that provides donated vehicles to disadvantaged families.
Rick Towne, president of Bumper to Bumper in Charleston, said they hope to give away 500 reconditioned cars nationwide by the end of the year. He said plenty of services are offered to domestic violence victims but that transportation must be accessible. "We like to call it the key to their freedom," Towne said.
For the local initiative, the auto parts chain and Charity Cars identified women in need through My Sister's House, a nonprofit agency that helps victims of domestic violence and their children in the tri-county area.
Pearson and four other My Sister's House clients, who wanted their identities to remain anonymous for safety reasons, have been approved so far for the program. The women received their refurbished cars at an event at Tanger Outlet in North Charleston.
Pearson said she had been busy filling out paperwork but saw her new ride for the first time Saturday. Gazing at her refurbished 1996 Dodge Caravan, she said, "I'm blessed. God looked out for me."
The five vehicles were donated by the public, and none has more than 125,000 miles. Charity Cars paid for the car titles and first month's insurance. Bumper to Bumper supplied the auto parts, and its certified service centers, about 20 of which are in the Lowcountry, fixed up the cars.
Mark's Super Service Center in North Charleston worked on Pearson's refurbished van. Owner Mark Workman said they replaced the transmission and did other work that could have otherwise cost Pearson thousands of dollars. "We hope it will give you a fresh start," Workman told Pearson.
Pearson said she always wanted a van so there would be enough room for her four daughters: Cheyenne, 16, Anisah, 14, and twins Lorraine and Verniece McKinnon, 10.
She had been leasing a truck since her 1998 Toyota Corolla gave out about a month ago. But now that she has a new van, she said she'd gladly return the truck.
Reach Tenisha Waldo at 937-5744 or twaldo@ postandcourier.com
" How to help "
Vehicles that run and have no more than 125,000 miles can be donated.
Call 800-242-7489 to find out more information, or visit www.800charitycars.org, www.800autotalk.com or www.my.sistershouse.org.
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