Emergency Cars for those in need

My husband and I were in a situation a couple of years ago where our car died.  It was winter and happened just before a huge dump of snow when we had no groceries in the house.  We tried to rent a car but they needed credit cards only to do it and our credit cards were full.  We were new to the area and didn't know anyone to help with no family nearby.  It was a horrible situation that somehow we made it through, thanks to a neighbors help.  We contacted churches at that time but nobody offered any help at all - even to get us to the rental car place to pick up a car.

Long story short, it got us thinking down the line of providing emergency cars for people in this kind of situation that the church's organize.  They can be older cars as long as they are functional and the idea is to help out people of the congregation (or community) if they get in a desperate situation and have no transport.  In our situation my husband just couldn't go to work till we sorted it all out. We had to try to find a car to buy using the rental car to get us around.  Fortunately it all timed when our tax refund came through so we had some money to buy another car.  

It's not a long term solution but it's something that can be worked with the people in need to make sure they can get groceries and get to work and MOST importantly get to where they need to go to get another vehicle.  We were in a catch 22 as you need a car to go buy a car even.  

I'm not sure exactly how it would work out but maybe it's just a matter of churches all having a car they are responsible for keeping as the emergency vehicle for their congregation.  Maybe in bigger congregations having two would be necessary.

I really hope that something like this can be set up.

Another thing regarding cars is when missionaries return, whether permanently or just back to do fund raising, it would be great to have a car that they can use while they are there or until they get set up.  Cars are expensive to buy initially and maintain and this type of thing can really help someone get established. I know, because someone did that for me once when I moved to a new place. I was able to borrow a car until I could get one of my own. It was the biggest blessing.