Sisters of the Valley launches California vehicle donation program

The Sisters of the Valley Ministry has opened a California vehicle donation program with Brownfield Auto Auction, offering free pickup statewide and charitable tax deductions for donors. Proceeds will help fund training for the next generation of Sisters.

Why it matters: - The program turns unwanted vehicles into funding for the Sisters of the Valley Ministry’s training and education work. - California residents can donate cars, trucks and other vehicles statewide, even if the vehicles no longer run. - Donors can also receive an IRS Form 1098-C to claim a charitable tax deduction.

What happened: - The Sisters of the Valley Ministry launched a California vehicle donation program in collaboration with Brownfield Auto Auction. - The program is now open to residents across the state. - Brownfield Auto Auction handles vehicle pickup, processing and auction sale.

The details: - The Ministry is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Merced, California. - Donors begin with a short online vehicle donation application. - Brownfield verifies the vehicle information and arranges collection directly with the donor. - Towing is free anywhere in California, including for non-running vehicles. - Brownfield evaluates and prepares donated vehicles for auction. - Proceeds from the sale are remitted to the Sisters of the Valley Ministry. - The Ministry will use the proceeds to help fund a formal training program for the next generation of Sisters. - Sister Hilda said the Ministry wants to document, organize, teach and preserve its work so it can outlive its founders. - Sister Camilla said vehicles do not need to be beautiful or operable to still hold value for the Ministry’s mission. - Sisters of the Valley began in California in 2015 and built their practices through communal work, plant medicine making, ceremony, business, activism and service. - The Ministry was created to preserve those teachings and make them available to women who want to pursue Sisterhood, including women who may eventually open their own chapters. - California has more than 36 million registered vehicles, and the state already supports abandoned-vehicle abatement programs for local governments. - Brownfield Auto Auction says more than 95 percent of its public auction inventory comes from charitable donations.

Between the lines: - The program gives the Sisters a practical revenue stream while also reinforcing the group’s mission of building a pipeline of future Sisters. - The vehicle donation model fits a broader trend in which nonprofits convert hard-to-use assets into charitable funding with minimal friction for donors.

What's next: - California residents can start the donation process online now. - The Ministry expects donations to help finance training infrastructure for future Sisters and new community chapters. - The program may also expand the organization’s visibility as it links sustainability, charitable giving and workforce-style training into one effort.

The bottom line: - The Sisters of the Valley are turning unwanted cars into a funding source for their long-term succession plan.