A $21,200 cheque has been presented to the Lloydminster Handivan Society (LHS) to buy a new wheelchair accessible van.
The cheque was presented by 100 Women Lloydminster on Wednesday. LHS was up against two other charities for the donation but ended up coming out on top. Director of LHS Glenn Fagnan says they have a total of three vans and the van they’re replacing is the only one that is accessible for people with physical challenges.
“The van that we’re currently using that has wheelchair accessibility is actually a 1991 Ford so it’s got a few miles on it and it’s getting really tired.”
The van is currently being used to transport people to medical appointments in Edmonton and Saskatoon. Fagnan says there are many ways people can’t get to appointments and their 20 volunteer drives make a difference.
“Some folks do not have the financial means to make to attend a medical appointment in an out of town setting and therefore go untreated. There’s also many people, seniors and others that don’t like driving in the winter, don’t feel confident driving in the larger cities.”
Border City Careavan, which transports both able-bodied and physically challenged people completed 330 rides last year and the two handivans used for people with disabilities did 16,000 trips in 2017.
Fagnan says they are looking at some different options for the van, including buying a new one to convert into being wheelchair accessible or purchasing one that is already accessible for people with physical disabilities.