Cars2ndChance donates minivan to Concord’s Putnam Clubhouse

Just as Dave Kemnitz was about to place an ad for a used Ford minivan he accepted as a donation, he received a phone call from friend and fellow Rotarian Jim Davis, who “just happened” to be looking for a used van.

The Kemnitz family owns D&H Enterprises, an auto repair shop in Concord. Kemnitz and his wife Mary lead an initiative to keep second-hand vehicles in the food chain. Davis sits on the board of directors of Putnam Clubhouse, a Concord non-profit that provides mental health services to adults. Both are members of Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary.

Davis, in serious tire-kicking mode, asked Kemnitz if he knew of a used vehicle that Putnam might add to its one-vehicle “fleet” of vans. Sure enough, Kemnitz replied, gazing at a 2001 Ford Windstar people mover that had just been donated to Cars2ndChance. The Kemnitzes formed Cars2ndChance a dozen years ago when Kemnitz was a member of Clayton Valley Concord Rotary, which remains an active program partner.

Benevolence vehicle

Because the van had been given to Cars2ndChance, it was declared a “benevolence” vehicle, meaning a donation to another 501(c)3. Donors have the option of designating Food Bank of Solano and Contra Costa as beneficiary of vehicle proceeds. For decades, the Food Bank has distributed donated packaged comestibles to countless thousands of community residents. Given the coronavirus crisis, the need is more acute than ever.

If Kemnitz had put the Windstar on the block, the sticker price of $3,995 would have been a bona fide bargain. Instead, once the title transfer paperwork was completed, Kemnitz handed the keys to Davis. With a few Putnam staff members, Davis came to the D&H lot on Monument Boulevard to take delivery of the new wheels.

The Cars2ndChance initiative will continue “until the cows come home,” said Kemnitz. Anyone with a candidate vehicle can visit cars2ndchance.org or call D&H at 925-360-5260.

The charity accepts any vehicle – auto, truck, boat, motorcycle – with a valid title, even if it is not in running order. All donations are tax deductible as provided by law.