Dylan’s 1994 Toyota Camry
Donated to
Minnesota Public Radio
Minnesota Public Radio Car Donation Review
“…it’s in his memory that I would like to donate Carmen to MPR.”
My dad bought this car on eBay back in 2001. He flew from Sioux City, IA down to Florida and had he decided not to purchase the car and drive it back to Iowa, his return flight would have been on September 11, 2001. The car served my family well for many years, us kids especially liked the backwards facing third row seat. Sometime later, my parents sold the car to my grandparents who again got a lot of good use out of it. I specifically remember one time, riding in the back seat as my Canadian grandmother was picking us up from school to go ice skating, she backed right into the stop sign and shattered the back hatch window! The summer of 2013 I was about to head to college, when the car switched hands again, this time coming under my ownership. My grandpa fixed the price at $107 (which at the time was the combined age of my mom, dad and I). I had many adventures with the car which became affectionately known as Carmen. Her versatility in all types of situations made her ideal for camping and road tripping. For spring break one year, a friend and I drove her all the way to Lake George, CO and the surrounding wilderness where we climbed a mountain and dubbed it Carmen’s Peak. With all these memories, and a car well used, I just couldn’t justify selling her to someone for use in a demolition derby. My grandfather who sold me the car passed away in the summer of 2020 and it’s in his memory that I would like to donate Carmen to MPR.
Thank You, Dylan!
More Donation Stories
The Rios Family’s 2006 Honda Civic Donated to Habitat for Humanity
We are happy to share our car to help out , in any way getting homes for those that don’t have one.
Stephen’s 2005 Ford Taurus Donated to SFSPCA
Good memories used it for work. It’s all good. time to turn the page
Oli’s 2010 Honda Insight Donated to March of Dimes
This was my first ever car that I got while in college. I planned to buy a cheap, used car with my savings but my mom surprised me by chipping in a bunch to help me get a new car. I named her Eustace and she carried me the 6+ hours to and from college for every vacation. She witnessed first love, graduation, and moved to the big city with me. She was tough, facing blazing summers, snow plows burying her for days, and alternate side parking. She drove my fiancee and I to our first house and then our wedding. She came and went to the NICU dozens of times until our beautiful baby was ready to come home months later. I was so nervous driving with our baby in the back seat for the first time, but Eustace was as steady and reliable as ever. She’s retired from our family now, but can hopefully still do some good for others.