BANGOR – When victims of domestic violence leave their abusers, they more often than not leave with few resources.

This includes transportation, which in the mostly rural state of Maine is vital to rebuilding one’s life, Al Belanger, owner of Tires, Batteries and Accessories Inc. of Bangor, said Monday.

That’s why his company is involved in a new program designed to put victims of domestic violence behind the wheel of reliable transportation.

“It helps them get their life back on track,” Belanger said. “It’s just to help people that need the help.”

TBA Inc., working in partnership with Motor Supply Co., Maine Auto Value-Bumper to Bumper service center and the Charity Cars Inc. campaign, began working on a 2001 Audi several months ago. The restored car will be donated to a domestic violence victim on Saturday during a ceremony in Augusta.

“[Motor Supply] donated all the parts to the vehicle, and we donated our labor,” Belanger said. “We’ve done a few things” to the Audi to make it roadworthy.

TBA Inc. put on “all new tires, brakes and did a number of other things,” he said, estimating the Audi received roughly $2,000 in parts and labor to make it reliable.

The donated vehicles are a tax write-off for their former owners, Belanger said.

“The owners are allowed to take the [Kelley] Blue Book value off their taxes, which is good for them,” he said.

For Belanger, helping out his neighbors in need is why he and his company got involved.

“If I can do something to help someone in the community, we’re going to do it,” he said. “We’re always looking for donations. It’s going to be a continuing project.”

Charity Cars is a national nonprofit organization created in 1996 to “to assist disadvantaged families in their transition from dependency to self-sufficiency,” the group’s Web site states.

For information on the Charity Cars campaign or to donate a vehicle, visit www.800charitycars.org or call 1-800-CHARITY.

All refurbished vehicles have a Confidence Plus 12-month, 12,000-mile warranty on all parts and labor, and Charity Cars supplies initial payments for insurance, license and title fees to help the recipients.

The Maine program is the first of its kind, and Belanger said he hopes the program expands to help more people

“As far as I know, it’s going to be once a year,” he said. “I’d like to see it so we could do it a couple times a year.”