Our Voice

A Letter From the CEO

Hello Friends,

Happy New Year!  Everyone at More Than Wheels wishes you and your family a happy and healthy 2013.  In this winter issue, we have highlighted the important services provided  by the many local volunteer income tax preparers in our region.  These volunteers work many hours to assist those earning $51,000 or less a year - providing not only valuable tax preparation services but also information on the Earned Income Tax Credit that you may be eligible for - we encourage anyone qualified to take advantage of these services.  

We are thrilled to share with you some exciting news in the issue as well. More Than Wheels has been selected by the Social Impact Exchange as one of the top performing nonprofits in the country and is included in the S&I 100 index.

We have also provided a link to a recent study on underbanked consumers that you may find of interest. It is a growing marketplace and one that charges high fees for services to those individuals who can least afford to pay them.  We, along with many others, encourage consumers to avoid those high fees by taking advantage of local Bank and Credit Union account programs.  I hope you enjoy the stories of success we share with you in each issue, and keep warm!  

For a few years now Felicia Miles' experience with vehicles consisted of buying cars for about $1500 at a time. She was always stressed because there was a sense of just barely making it to wherever she was driving, not to mention the worrying about always having to find money to fix unexpected repair costs. She was constantly concerned about what would breakdown next and how it would affect her commitments and responsibilities.  On top of all of this, there were issues going on with her credit report that she was not aware of.

Felicia admitted, "My credit wasn't terrible but I just wasn't checking it so that was an issue. I really wish I had stayed on top of it more."

One day Felicia's sister read an article about More Than Wheels in the Bay State Banner Newspaper. She cut it out and gave it to Felicia in hopes that it might help a little with her vehicle situation. What Felicia didn't realize when she got in touch with us, was that she was going to get much more than just a little help... (click to continue reading)

This program not only allows you to save money on tax preparation, but is a great opportunity to use your tax refunds towards the purchase of reliable, fuel-efficient vehicle.  This provides an opportunity to put you tax refund to good use and by working with More Than Wheels clients can save $10,000 - $13,000 on the purchase of a vehicle!

Find your local VITA sites by calling simply calling 211 or visiting your local 211 website:

>   Massachusetts - Massachusetts 211

>   New Hampshire - New Hampshire 211

>   Maine - Maine 211

>   Vermont - Vermont 211

The Social Impact Exchange has launched the S&I 100. This is an index of the top nonprofits having a positive impact on America's most pressing social issues. The Social Impact Exchange reviewed organizations which focused on education, health, poverty and youth development. Each nonprofit was rigorously screened for evidence of demonstrated impact and readiness and capacity for growth... (click to continue reading)