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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 28, 2015)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A7 FROM PAGE A1 CAREVAN: CareVan service continued from page A1 served as the GSMC board of trustees’ chairman for a num- ber of years, and he thought the hospital should offer a less expensive way to get people to their much-needed appointments. After his death, the hospital realized just how much of a needed service it was. “They found out that peo- ple didn’t have a way to get to their appointments,” Schaan said. Schaan said Cricket Nich- ols, of United Way, com- pleted a feasibility study and learned that more than 900 people could use the service every week in the region, which stretches from Pend- leton to Hermiston to Echo to Hat Rock. After receiving a grant from the Wildhorse Foundation to cover some of the start-up costs and funds from Paul Parish of Special Mobility in Kennewick and the Good Shepherd Com- munity Health Foundation, the hospital purchased a van equipped with a ramp and all other necessary equipment for people with medical is- sues. ,n its ¿rst month of ser- vice in December 2006, the hospital gave 77 rides. Since then, the van has provided nearly 18,000 rides to people. The service is near- ly entirely funded by dona- tions, largely given by the riders using the service. Fitch said she donates $5 every time she uses the ser- vice. She also donates $100 on her husband’s birthday and on their anniversary because The CareVan op- erates from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Care- Van travels to Herm- iston, Echo, Stan¿eld, Umatilla, Irrigon and Boardman to pick up and deliver patients to medical appointments in Hermiston. For more information, or to reserve a ride, call 541-667-3888. she not only appreciates the service, she also wants to honor her husband’s memo- ry. She said her husband gave much of himself for the hos- pital, and it deserves a little something back from her as well. “I’m so proud of him,” she said. “This is a service that is so wonderful.” Tina Cullers, coordinator for CareVan, said the service also wouldn’t be possible without its volunteer drivers. Retired area school teach- er Gary Miller said he has been driving for the past three and a half years, and it has brought him nothing but joy. “It was recommended to me by another driver who told me that, after 32 years of teaching, it would be a good way to give back to the com- munity,” he said. “I love be- ing able to visit with people. It is nice to be able to help out people who can’t do some of these things on their own. I’m glad to help out, and most people seem very thankful.” The program has also given back to other organi- About Clearview Clearview is in the process of obtaining an ambu- lance, which will have the capability of transporting non-emergency patients on stretchers. The organiza- tion operates with volunteers and two paid drivers and is always looking for more volunteers. For more information about the Clearview Mediation organiza- tion, call 541-276-1130. EAT SHOP PLAY zations that provide similar services. This week, Care- Van donated one of its older vehicles, a 2006 van worth about $6,800, to Clearview Mediation Disability Re- source Center. Darrin Um- barger, career counseling specialist for the organi- zation, and his son Jeremy Umbarger, program man- ager, said they offer rides to clients from Pendleton and Hermiston to as far as Portland for medical ap- pointments. While the ser- vice typically isn’t free, the center works with insurance and other health organiza- tions to fund the program. Schaan said hospital ad- ministrators are happy to provide transportation to area residents and also help others doing the same thing. “We are thrilled when we found out the hospital decid- ed to donate it to you,” she said to Darrin and Jeremy Umbarger. MAEGAN MURRAY PHOTOS Good Shepherd Medical Center Volunteer Manager Cindy Schaan hands the keys to a van to Darrin Umbarger, career counseling specialist at Clearview Mediation Disability Resource Center. GSMC donated the van from its CareVan program to Clearview so that Clearview could expand their service offerings in Hermiston. Better value than Verizon and AT&T. There’s never been a better time to switch. We’ll pay off your old contract, up to $350 per line. 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