POUGHKEEPSIE – Six deserving
Dutchess County families now have the wheels essential to becoming even
more productive members of the community and in a better position to support
themselves and their families. County Executive Marc Molinaro joined the
County Department of Community and Family Services and Dutchess County
BOCES Tuesday to the present the donated used vehicles to the recipients
from the Community Solutions to Transportation “Wheels to Work”
programs.
“Wheels to Work” is part of a multi-dimensional approach to
help transition residents to work. Other components of that approach include
training students, through a relationship with Dutchess County BOCES,
among other partners; daycare for eligible families; and the Community
Solutions for Transportation program.
One of the vehicles now belongs to Deshawn Pryce, who came to Dutchess
County 10 years ago and now is the mother of three children, ages 10,
7 and 18 months.
“We need this because it’s helping moms to be able to be mothers
and keep a job and take care of their children without relying on any
system or any government assistance, and I’m so grateful and thankful
for this opportunity,” Pryce said. “And, I told my daughter
and said we’re coming home with a car, and they’re so excited
and I’m so happy and thankful for this.”
Precisely the kind of family the program is intended to help.
Molinaro told the recipients they can feel pride.
“So the message I would want to leave you with is just that –
don’t ever look down at yourselves, don’t ever feel like you
can’t accomplish, don’t ever feel like there aren’t
people who truly care, because you live in a county and a community when
others may not feel that this is not that important. We do.”
Since its inception in 2001, 731 vehicles have been approved on behalf
of program participants. For every family that receives a car and avoids
temporary assistance, Dutchess County saves over $1,600 a month.
