Carman’s Handi-Van has been helping people with mobility barriers since 1986.
In that time, the service has been shrinking the community and making it more accessible to countless people.
Kathie Findlay has been a board member of Carman Handi-Van service since 2013. She says that through her years of working with the service, she sees how many people take advantage of it.
“The need is still there very much, but it fluctuates a little bit depending on who's moving into the age category [of riding] and the people that we perhaps lose or that move to the Boyne Lodge that don't ride anymore,” she says. “It is very steady, and we are very steady operating Monday to Friday.”
The service has two drivers (one full-time and one standby), one vehicle that can accommodate eleven people, and the flexibility to convey passengers around town and beyond it.
Passengers arrange their ride by phone, and the fare is $5 one way. The service also collaborates with Carman Seniors Resource Council to deliver meals in the community.
Funding an important service
Findlay says that the essential Handi-Van service is funded partially through a grant from Manitoba’s Mobility Disadvantaged Transportation Program, which provides $20,000 a year for a community to operate a Handi-Van.
One of the things that stands out about Carman’s service (and one of the mandates of the grant program) is that it is door-to-door rather than curb-to-curb, which adds to the peace of mind that the service provides.
“Our drivers make sure that our clients get from their doorways safely to the van and [back] to their doorway," says Findlay. "They know that they are inside before they leave."
Community support
Findlay says another means of funding for the service is community support.
Carman’s Handi-Van has seen plenty of it over the years.
“We have been very fortunate with donations that have helped to keep things running, just in the general operations, but we have also been fortunate that our local Boyne Regional Library has contributed funding from one of their grants,” says Findlay.
“That has offered some of our less fortunate people in the community free rides to get to things like shopping and medical trips and some social activities they may want to participate in.”
Current need
Unfortunately, because of current funding constraints, the free-ride program has been put on hold for the moment.
Even so, Findlay says a few things that may help with funding are on the horizon.
“I have had a couple of calls from generous people within the community just to see how they can help, and I'm just waiting to see how that unfolds going forward,” she says.
There will also be a quiz night fundraiser on March 21st to raise money for the service. Carman Handi-Van has been doing this event for a while.
“It's being held in conjunction with the curling club, but that doesn't mean that anybody can't come and participate. It just happens to fall on the same night,” says Findlay.
The details
The fundraiser, which takes place at Carman Golf and Curling Club, is $20 per person. The organization hopes for teams of eight. Findlay encourages people who don’t have a team of that size to come anyway — teams of eight will also be formed at the fundraiser out of individuals and smaller teams who attend.
Findlay says the quiz night is also an opportunity to get to know Carman’s transportation organization.
“Our whole board will be there,” she says. “[We’re] looking forward to some really good fun with our community. It seems to really embrace ... an event like that. They want to be out to just have some good laughs and camaraderie.”
The quiz night takes place on March 21st in Carman. Findlay recommends that teams register by the end of March 19th.
Those interested in registering are invited to call Cheryl at 204-745-8926.
Findlay says that the board is also looking for new members, so the quiz night is the perfect opportunity to get to know the friendly crew at Carman Handi-Van.
With files from Robyn Wiebe