The Angel Bus Committee has to raise $30,000 over the next 24 hours to lock in the purchase of a new vehicle to provide medical transportation to those in need at the west end of Manitoulin Island.
Angel Bus Committee Chair Sandy Cook says the cost of the wheelchair-accessible vehicle is $170,000 and they are $30,000 short.
She says any donation of any size could help them reach this crucial goal for the vehicle which provides an average of 100 trips annually for clients who have no other source of transportation for medical visits.
She adds the organization is solely supported by community donations and run by volunteers.
After years of savings, the Angel Bus Committee was on track for the purchase of a replacement used vehicle in 2024 but mounting mechanical and structural issues with the 2008 Angel Bus make imminent replacement prudent. She says of the $102,000 they currently hold, they were expecting to pay up to $80,000 for the next used vehicle, leaving $20,000 in reserve to start 2023. However, post-COVID supply chain issues in the automotive industry and the current economy have made it difficult, if not impossible, to find reasonably priced, used, accessible vehicles.
They add a new accessible van now costs $170,000 and they’ve been able to negotiate a deal with Move Mobility for a 2022 Ford Transit accessible demo van for a total of $139,827.63, taxes in, but this offer expires Tuesday evening, January 31st.
“We are ~$30,000 short of our goal so we’re trying our hand at crowdsourcing, hoping to raise $30,000,” stresses Cook.
To donate, send an e-transfer to “[email protected]”, put Angel Bus in the name box, indicate the donation is for the replacement Angel Bus in the message box and include your name and physical home address as this information is required for charitable tax receipting purposes.
Visit manitoulinauxiliary.org for the campaign thermometer.