At a cozy café in Abbotsford, Jeevan and her Community Inclusion worker, Laura Wieler, are enjoying a treat and some meaningful conversation. They’re thankful the café was close by, as the van they’d planned to use was once again out of service - a recurring challenge in recent weeks.
“I’d feel a lot more comfortable if the van’s lift worked properly,” Jeevan says. “It would make a big difference in my day.”
Jeevan, who receives support from Communitas Supportive Care Society, thrives on connection. Her days include crafts, puzzles, and outings with friends - but those simple joys depend on reliable transportation.
“Unfortunately, the van we have now is not always reliable. Sometimes it has issues with the battery or with the lift,” Wieler says. “Appointments or activities have had to be rescheduled because we couldn’t rely on the van.”
Wendy Toohey, who manages Community Inclusion services for Communitas, has even had to turn people away due to the lack of a dependable vehicle.
“It's hard to turn someone away simply because we don't have a necessary, reliable vehicle to help them get around,” she says.
To change that, Communitas has launched Drive to Thrive, a fundraising campaign to purchase two accessible vans. These vehicles will give people like Jeevan the freedom to engage fully in their communities.
Give today at CommunitasCare.com/DriveToThrive
“For many people, a lack of accessible transportation means missing out on the simple joys of life, like meeting friends for coffee,” says Matt Dirks, Chief Innovation Officer for Communitas. “For others, it’s the difference between getting to a critical medical appointment or accessing urgent community resources.”
“If we had a new van, I would feel safer and it would allow me to do more things in my community,” Jeevan adds.
Wieler says having a reliable vehicle wouldn’t just reduce stress for staff - it would open up new possibilities for the people they support. “I love to see Jeevan thriving - she really does have an abundant life,” she says. "As Community Inclusion workers, we want to focus fully on the person we’re supporting, without the added worry that our equipment might fail.”
The campaign includes a powerful incentive: a generous donor is matching all gifts up to $25,000 until May 12, doubling the impact of each donation.
“We're so grateful for this opportunity,” Dirks says. “It will make such a difference to Jeevan and to others we serve.”
To support Drive to Thrive and learn more, visit www.CommunitasCare.com/DriveToThrive. Every donation made by May 12 brings Communitas one step closer to helping more people connect, engage and thrive!