Oklahoma Care Facility Helps Teens Buy Cars

A residential care home for children in northeast Oklahoma is using an innovative program to help teenage residents purchase their first vehicles. Teenagers at the Sand Springs Children’s Home must earn at least $3,000 for a car, which is then matched by the agency and Pell grants. Four teens who graduated last year earned enough to win matching funds to buy a car.

“Buying a car is not easy, and it is not cheap,” said Jason Charles, executive director of the home. “We can’t afford new cars, but we want them to be able to buy something reliable that will get them through college or help them get started in a job.”

Charles Page, a Sand Springs philanthropist, opened the home in 1908. The charity provides residential placements for kids ages 8 to 18 years who cannot live in their homes due to family issues. 20 children currently reside at the home.