5 Virginia Charities are Finalists to Win New Toyotas

Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good is back. With your help, 100 cars are given to deserving nonprofit organizations all over the country. Toyota seeks to enhance the good works these organizations do within their local communities. By extending their reach, the Toyota-provided vehicle will allow them to become more efficient so they may better serve the community. You can vote on the Toyota 100 Cars For Good Facebook page.

The 100 Cars for Good philanthropy initiative is taking place on Facebook! During the 50-day competition, 2 car winners will be chosen each day from the pool of 250 eligible nonprofits. You get to decide which nonprofit could do the most good with their new Toyota. Voting starts October 1st, 2013. Here is a look at the local finalists you should keep your eye on:

AASC

Cedar Bluff, VA | Focus: Human Services: Seniors | Toyota of Choice: Prius

The Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens (AASC) seeks to improve the quality of life for the elderly through a wide array of charitable, educational, and social services. These services include home-delivered meals, transportation, in-home care, intergenerational daycare, all-inclusive health care, emergency home repair, medicare counseling, legal assistance, and more.

BookBag Santa

Roanoke, VA | Focus: Education | Toyota of Choice: Sienna

BookBag Santa collects supplies that are thrown out at the end of the school year, like pens, pencils, rulers, and paper; and redistributes them to those that need it most. BookBag Santa not only donates to local charities in Roanoke, VA, but their reach extends to schools in Belize, churches and other groups with initiatives in Mexico, Haiti, Sudan, el Salvador, and the U.S. as well as the Military Family Support Group, and Native American schools in South Dakota.

Federation of VA Food Banks

Norfolk, VA | Focus: Human Services: Adult | Toyota of Choice: Prius

The Federation of Virginia Food Banks is a state association of food banks that make up the largest hunger-relief network in the state. It includes seven regional food banks in the Virginia/Washington DC area that focus on providing programs geared toward food, funding, education, advocacy, and awareness. Last year the Federation served over 1,012,500 Virginians.

Samaritan House, Inc.

Virginia Beach, VA | Focus: Homelessness and Housing | Toyota of Choice: Sienna

Samaritan House is dedicated to the promotion of safety, growth, and self-sufficiency through freedom from domestic abuse and homelessness for both adults and children. They are committed to eliminating the root cause of these issues with education, advocacy, community outreach and intervention. In addition, the children’s programs offered seek to break the cycle of violence and homelessness.

Wildlife Center of Virginia

Waynesborow, VA | Focus: Animal Welfare and Wildlife | Toyota of Choice: Sienna

The Wildlife Center of Virginia is committed to providing quality health care and emergency services to native wildlife including more than 200 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. In addition, the Center educates school-children and adults, and provides professional training programs to wildlife medicine practitioners.