FOCUS in Vermilion held a BBQ fundraiser with a dunk tank on May 31. The fundraiser was held to raise funds for the new Transport Van the organization has purchased to help provide transportation for individuals requiring transport to medical appointments outside the community. During the BBQ, residents could purchase a hamburger/hotdog and a beverage for $5. They could also opt to partake in dunking a volunteering member of the Town Council, Councilman Paul Conlon or Mayor Greg Throndson, the executive director of FOCUS Robert Snow, or community volunteer Gary Walsh.
According to Dawn Riley, FOCUS program director of special projects, the service is hoping to launch in the middle part of June and will be providing non-emergent transportation to Vermilion and area residents.
“This service is intended for medical appointments at health facilities outside of the Vermilion area. Health Care Facilities and private residences will have the ability to access the FOCUS Transport Service. For example, if an individual has an appointment in Camrose for a CAT Scan and does not have transportation to the appointment they can contact us to make arrangements for transport, etc.” commented Riley.
The FOCUS Transport Service will be a fee-for-service and the client is dropped-off at their appointment and then picked up by the same vehicle when the appointment is complete. The bus can transport up to five clients and is wheelchair accessible. One of the goals of the service is to help reduce the strain on the current EMS service while providing peace of mind to community members who struggle to find transportation to medical appointments outside of Vermilion.
For more information, you can contact Dawn Riley at FOCUS.