Turning the family car “back into trees”
By Paul Garrahan
I bought my old Volvo used, five years old, around the same age as many of the trees we plant. I subsequently drove it for 19 years.
It took me hiking, camping, biking and running. I slid through snowstorms in it. I prevailed through law school with it. I worked on political campaigns with it.
It came across country with my wife and me (alas, ferried by a friend on a wild ride through Colorado, Utah and California). I shuttled my kids in it as babies and for their preschool years.
It was part of me.
So, needless to say, when it came time to part with it, and to move to a more environmentally-friendly hybrid, it was a bittersweet moment.
Its book value was a fraction of its sentimental value.
By donating the car to Friends of Trees, I feel like I was able to reap some karmic return on my sentimental investment. It closed the loop on a car I loved for many, many years—having its final value (admittedly, not much) transferred to an organization I love.
And, ultimately, back into trees.
More information on the Friends of Trees vehicle donation program is available online.
Garrahan is an attorney for Metro and Friends of Trees Board Member.