Fund shortage puts brakes on local Care-a-Van service
7/23/2008The Care-a-Van service hasn't been running this week, but Oregon Mayor Marge Brown is hopeful the service will resume on Monday provided the service gets some much-needed donations.
Care-a-Van, a service that provides free transportation for people in the East Toledo and Oregon areas who need help getting to and from their medical appointments, has been out of service since July 9.
The service is free, although donations are accepted
The service, which has been operating for four years, transports about 3,000 people per year.
Ms. Brown said that she and Dr. Erol Riza, a retired Oregon doctor and a volunteer with the service, are trying to raise the needed funds by meeting with the hospital chiefs of staff and contacting the mayors of towns and villages that make use of the service.
She said she is also working with Toledo city councilman Mike Craig and the Cherry Street Mission.
Dr. Riza said the service will be able to assess its options for resuming by Saturday.
"I'm hoping we can get through this," Mayor Brown said.