Calais veteran receives free car from Bangor nonprofit

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – A new road is open for Air Force veteran Warren Carter, 45, of Calais, and his family, along with a new set of wheels to travel it.

After having to coordinate trips to his wife’s doctor’s appointments, Carter now owns his own car.

This is thanks to the Maine Veterans Project car donation program.

Carter’s 2008 Jeep Liberty joins the fleet of over 50 vehicles that MVP has donated to veterans.

“This is actually a very special donation,” describes MVP President Doc Goodwin. “This donation went to a Vietnam veteran four years ago, and he brought it back to us just a few days ago, and when this car became available, the decision was very easy.”

“This is something we really needed. We don’t have a vehicle. “It makes it a lot easier for us to get around, and my wife has a lot of medical issues,” Carter explains.

Before the Liberty was donated to MVP, it was fitted with new tires and parts to make it like new again. To top it off, MVP performed a fresh oil change before handing the keys over to the Carters.

Since all other costs are covered, Carter only needs to register and insure the car.

“I was really excited, but the woman was…she was a little emotional,” Carter recalls when the couple saw the car in the flesh for the first time. “It’s a beautiful vehicle. It will make it much easier for us to get around.”

Being in rural Maine, transportation options are essential.

With car prices rising post-COVID, Goodwin says the vehicle donation program is more important than ever.”

“That’s literally my favorite part of all of this, from the heating oil to the vehicles, because I know what they mean, and unfortunately I also know what it means to not have one,” Goodwin explains. “Vehicles can mean so much, from mental health to nutrition. You must be able to leave your home from time to time, especially given the vulnerable population of veterans we work with. We just want people to have the freedom to do what they need to do.”

Not only does Liberty give the Carters the freedom to travel freely, but Tuesday’s donation also shows the support veterans in the area receive through organizations like MVP.

“I think there’s a lot of stigma around veterans for a lot of us. We just don’t think we need help, and sometimes we do. Being a veteran makes it a little easier for a veteran to talk to them and just ask for help,” Carter said of MVP.

MVP’s vehicle donation program is based on cars donated to the nonprofit organization.

If you have an unused vehicle that you would like to donate to a veteran, visit MVP’s website or Facebook page.

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