Colorful signs line the wall with names of Bishop Sullivan Center clients who recently found employment. Standing in front from left to right are Bishop Sullivan’s Joe Quinn, manager of the Drive KC to Work program, Biviana Radillo of employment services, Kathleen Kennedy, coordinator of employment services, and Graciela Radillo of social services. Bishop Sullivan recently launched its Drive KC to Work program to help its clients expand their job opportunities. Leslie Collins

By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
March 30, 2011

“A large percent of folks around this neighborhood and Troost don’t have cars and that is a huge problem,” Director of Bishop Sullivan Center Tom Turner said.

It’s a huge problem, he said, because Bishop Sullivan clients listed lack of personal transportation as the No. 1 obstacle to finding employment.

“They don’t have a car, so they are tethered to the bus lines and the bus times, which severely limits where you can work,” Turner said. “For those of us who have always had a car, it’s hard for us to fathom.”

To remedy the issue, Bishop Sullivan recently launched “Drive KC to Work,” which helps Kansas Citians find a vehicle at a low and affordable price.

Drive KC to Work compliments Bishop Sullivan’s employment program already in place, said Kathleen Kennedy, Bishop Sullivan’s coordinator of employment services.

“We come at it from every way we can,” Kennedy said. “If we’ve got somebody who’s been fired from their last six jobs, we’ve got some issues of dealing with ways of life, bosses or difficult co-workers. We’re helping them step by step to figure those things out.”

Offering Drive KC to Work is one more way to help clients find employment.

Bishop Sullivan already has some donated vehicles and is hoping for more.

By using donated vehicles, it allows the center to sell them at a more affordable price, Turner explained. Bishop Sullivan’s goal is to sell vehicles for $2,500 or less and offer interest-free loans.

Although the loan will be in the client’s name, Bishop Sullivan will be the lien holder until the client pays off the vehicle.

“In the last two weeks, we’ve approved two loans,” said Joe Quinn, manager of the Drive KC to Work program. “I’d like to find one new owner every week. By having a car, it will give them more time at home and an easier time getting to work.”

Before each vehicle is sold to a client, Bishop Sullivan thoroughly inspects the vehicle, Turner said. If the vehicle needs major repairs while the loan is being paid off, Bishop Sullivan will forgive the loan and start the process over.

“I don’t want them making payments on a car that no longer runs,” Turner said. “We’re in the business of helping families become more self-sufficient.”

For Vanessa Davis, the program was a godsend. For six months, the single mother of three had been carpooling with friends, family and coworkers.

“It was frustrating,” Davis said. “I felt like a burden and inconvenience.”

Prior to carpooling, Davis bought a Dodge van from a used car dealer, but after a month, the van needed major repairs.

“It needed a transmission and it was more than I could afford to pay to get it fixed,” she said. “At the same time, the mechanic said that was only to get it running and not to mention anything else that may have been wrong with the vehicle.”

For six months, Davis was tethered to other’s schedules. She used carpooling to travel to work, drop her kids off at school and day care, go to church activities and the grocery store.

She eliminated dance lessons for her daughter and cut out other activities like family outings to the movies and restaurants.

“Basically, I limited myself to necessities, things we had to do,” she said.

For two weeks, she’s been driving the 1995 silver Ford Taurus she purchased from Bishop Sullivan.

“I am so excited and very thankful,” she said. “It’s more convenient. I can go as I need to as opposed to waiting on a ride.

“It’s a wonderful program and sometimes you do need a break. This was truly a good blessing to me.”