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In a team effort, nine service centers and part stores in northwest Michigan as part of Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper have joined with an organization called Charity Cars to help victims of domestic violence who are struggling to financially start over from scratch.

A press release on the program stated about domestic violence victims, "They need to find and keep gainful employment and return to being safe, contributing members of society and continue raising their children in a safe and healthy environment."

Supporters of the program believe a functioning car can be the first step to recovering and gaining freedom from the unhealthy relationships.

"[Charity Cars] has been doing this for several years,"said Randy Lucyk, owner of Midas of Kalkaska and participating member. "They have created a program centered around providing victims of domestic problem with transportation. Many of the victims have monetary issues and cars can be a huge expense for them."

Now that the parts stores and the mechanics are on board to help, they need cars to work on, and according to Lucyk, that is the biggest hurdle. They are looking for cars that are not completely valueless.

"Our challenge is getting the word out to the right individuals to donate a car that might still have some value,"Lucyk said. "People need to donate cars that are better than junker cars."

All the cars that come in will be refurbished with articipating parts stores providing the pieces needed to fix up the used cars and the auto body and repair stores will working to clean them up.

The participating auto stores are working in conjunction with the Women's Resource Center to identify the victims who have the most immediate need for a car. Lucyk said the resource center will have no trouble identifying deserving victims.

The WRC serves victims throughout Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau and Antrim County. With this area being one of the fastest growing areas in the state, the number of victims, both men and women, of domestic violence has also been rapidly increasing in the area. WRC serves more than 1900 individuals and families, doubling the number from when it began in 1992.

The WRC's free services for domestic violence victims include emergency and transitional Housing, individual, group and family support, referral services, Men Exploring Non-Violent Solutions Program, The WRC Thrift Shoppe and the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program.

With domestic violence being a big issue in the area, participating members wanted to reach out and help their fellow community members in need.

"We realize we've had good support in our community and we know we need to do something to give back to that community,"Lucyk said. "In our meeting I could tell all the owners felt the same way. We are trying to do something positive to our community."

The local participating members include: Bellaire Auto, Bellaire; Chain of Lakes Auto Body, Bellaire; Dave's Restoration and Auto Repair, Bellaire; Auto Value Parts Stores, Bellaire, Kalkaska, Boyne City, Charlevoix; Complete Muffler and Auto Service, Charlevoix; Midas of Kalkaska, Kalkaska; Eriksen's 131 Auto Repair, Boyne Falls; Graham's Auto Repair, Central Lake

; Mike's Auto Care, Atwood; and Schaefer's Auto Repair, Rapid City. To donate your qualified car, van, pickup or SUV call 1-800-CHARITY.

Hadley Robinson can be reached at hrobinson@michigannewspapers.com or by calling 231-533-8523.