Flagstaff’s Informed Response Sharing Team (FIRST) took delivery of a new Care-A-Van this week, purchased through donations to replace the existing van, which is “miling-out.”
The Care-A-Van project was started back in 2013, with a big boost from Wes Campbell of Campbell-McLennan Chrysler.
Campbell says the project was the idea of a former employee and the former FFCS director Lynne Jenkinson. “They brought it to me and together we just ran with it.”
In May of 2013, Campbell and his staff culminated a very successful fundraising campaign by shaving their heads en masse as a kind of thank you to everyone who had contributed to funding the new van.
Campbell says, “I’ve been honoured to be involved since Day 1. This is a project we are really proud of.”
The Care-A-Van is specifically for Flagstaff residents to be used for medical appointments, whether in the region or beyond. The program is administered through Flagstaff Family and Community Services (FFCS).
For just the cost of fuel, any person can book the van, which comes with a driver.
Often times people aren’t familiar with city driving, comfortable with city driving, or simply don’t have access to transportation. The Care-A-Van solves this issue.
Since its inception in 2013, the program has gone through three vans, this most recent one is the third. The existing Care-A-Van will be now relegated to use within the county limits.
FFCS Executive Director Stacey McLennan says that the Care-A-Van is very well used, and is usually booked a month in advance. It runs five days a week.
Fundraising for this replacement van got started in a big way when Flagstaff County Council voted to cover half of the cost of the new van.
“That was a huge boost, and very helpful in getting us started,” Campbell says.
McLennan says most of Flagstaff’s urban municipalities also support the Care-A-Van program through donations to the annual FIRST auction. “This is really a community driven project,” she says.
She says Campbell played a key part in soliciting the rest of the donations for the new van, over and above his own donation.
A grant was also received from the Battle River Community Foundation in support of the purchase of the replacement van.
As for the rest, Campbell says it wasn’t a hard job to pick up the phone and ask people for their support. “They know their money is staying in Flagstaff to support Flagstaff people.”
He adds, “Stacey was also really great to work with.”
The van bears the logos of all businesses or organizations who donated $1,000 or more towards the program.
Campbell also provides free services for the life of the vehicle. FIRST covers the cost of insurance and registration and drivers through donations and fundraising.
McLennan says drivers operate on a volunteer basis, but do receive an honorarium.
“We can always use new volunteer drivers, too.”
She says anyone interested can contact the FFCS office in Killam for details on how to become a driver.
Leslie Cholowsky
Editor
