Wheels for Work has provided dozens of vehicles to local residents over the past three years but now the program needs support from the community to keep rolling.

Wheels for Work will hold a marathon from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 9 at Shenango Valley Mall, Hermitage.

"The bottom line is we need money," said Shirley Friday, program coordinator. She added that the program's fund is down to the "last pennies."

The marathon will include a kick boxing demonstration by Michelle Askerneese, music, testimonials from Wheels for Work car recipients, a hair design demonstration and a talk from a mechanic.

Wheels for Work will also raffle off prizes including a DVD player. Mrs. Friday said there will be information about the program available, and there will be a car in the mall concourse for people to drop donations.

Wheels for Work is a consortium of 13 local community agencies that work with the private sector to obtain and distribute donated vehicles to anyone who meets certain needs-based guidelines, according to a news release.

The program has provided 72 families in the Shenango Valley with vehicles since November 1998.

Olive Brown, coordinator of the ERASE Anti-Drug Coalition, said the program's goal is to "keep families working and off welfare."

Donated cars usually need about $500 in repairs plus the cost of a title transfer before they can be allocated, the release said. The Prince of Peace Center, Farrell, serves as the lead agency and provides a coordinator to manage the program.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Kristen Garrett at

kgarrett@sharon-herald.com