WEYBURN – The Weyburn Care-A-Van Society received major support from area organizations, enabling them to buy a van to replace their aging 2013 unit.
With donations including a $40,000 grant from the Kinsmen Telemiracle, and $1,500 from the Sooline Cruisers, along with other donations, the society was able to purchase a 2022 Chrysler Caravan STX, with a Braunability commercial rear-entry fold-out ramp.
“This is a great service for Weyburn,” said Trevor Sealy, president of the Sooline Cruisers.
Kin Club member Marie Reeve, who volunteers on the Care-A-Van board, helped Myron Fletcher to fill out the application to Telemiracle for the grant, and noted it was very extensive in asking for what the organization needs and why.
“We saw it as a need in the community, as the other van was getting old and worn out,” said Reeve, adding the club members have all helped out at the annual Telemiracle broadcast.
Noting she sometimes helps acquaint families with how to use the rental van, she said the families are always very grateful for the use of the van, as often it’s used for important family occasions such as to get a relative to a wedding or to visit at Christmas time.
Other organizations which contributed to the purchase included the G. Murray and Edna Forbs Foundation, Weyburn Credit Union, Bill and Helen Davidson Foundation, Weyburn Police Association and the Weyburn Quota Club.
Fletcher said they had ordered a 2023 van, but it was sold on them. They had a 2022 Caravan available that only had 50 km on it, and they were offered it at $10,000 less than the newer van.
He noted that just in the first month of use, it has had 1,500 km put on it.
This van can be used by families who need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle to transport a loved one to a medical appointment, a family function or for just an outing.
The van can be driven by anyone with a valid driver’s licence, as the Care-A-Van Society does not provide a driver.
The van can be booked with the in-town rate of $20 for the first hour and $10 for each additional hour, or the out-of-town rate of $85 per day, which includes the first 100 km, and 50 cents per km over that. Care-A-Van pays for the gas.
Contact the Weyburn Care-A-Van for bookings at 306-861-2219.
Weyburn Care-A-Van provides the only wheelchair-accessible vehicles for public use in Weyburn and area, and are a volunteer-run organization who welcome new members at any time. Care-A-Van is currently also looking for part-time drivers.
