ASHLAND – Soaring gas prices coupled with high demand for services has left Ashland County Cancer Association scrambling to provide rides for cancer patients.
The organization is asking community members for financial and volunteer support to sustain its popular transportation program.
Last fall, ACCA began providing free transportation to medical appointments for Ashland County residents with a cancer diagnosis. The service was added in response to frequent client requests.
At that time, the Ashland County commissioners gifted the organization a wheelchair-accessible van using federal CARES Act funds, and Ashland County Community Foundation provided a grant for other start-up costs. Immediately, the program took off.
Since launching its transportation program in September 2021, ACCA has received 150 requests and provided 98 trips for patients who need rides to medical appointments. While some of these trips are to medical offices in Ashland, Wooster or Mansfield, others are as far as Cleveland or Columbus. The program supports trips within approximately 100 miles of Ashland.
Patients utilize the transportation service for a variety of reasons, Ashland County Cancer Association Executive Director Angela Woodward said.
Some don’t have cars, don’t drive or can’t afford gas. Others are not comfortable driving in bigger cities like Cleveland or Columbus, where their medical appointments are located.
Some have spouses or caregivers who cannot take time off work to drive them to appointments. Others have no support person nearby to assist.
Woodward will never forget what one client told her about the importance of the organization’s transportation service. Without the program, he said, he would not have been able to access treatment and would have stayed home and died.
“I am thrilled to be able to remove this roadblock for our clients, but it is an expensive program,” Woodward said. “Now, with gas at $4.50 a gallon, we did not budget for that.”
In addition to covering rising costs, the organization would like to add a second vehicle — something more fuel efficient than the van — for the program. With a second vehicle, the organization could accommodate two patients at once and could save money on trips for patients who do not use wheelchairs.
There are three ways for community members to support the program:
Make a donation
Give directly to Ashland County Cancer Association for transportation program expenses. To do this, donate online at www.ashlandcancer.org, mail a check payable to Ashland County Cancer Association with “Transportation Program” in the memo line to 1011 East Main St, Suite A, Ashland, OH 44805 or call 419-281-1863.
Help with sustainability
Contribute to the “Ashland County Cancer Association Transportation Fund” at Ashland County Community Foundation. This endowment fund was started with a $15,000 grant from Ashland County Community Foundation. Investment income from the fund provides annual revenue to support the program. Give online at www.ashlandforgood.org, or mail a check payable to Ashland County Community Foundation with “ACCA Transportation Fund” in the memo line to 300 College Ave., Ashland, OH 44805.
Become a driver
Volunteer as a driver to help patients in need and ease the load for the organization’s six existing volunteers. Drivers receive special training from Ashland Public Transit to drive the van as well as CPR training from University Hospitals Samaritan Medical Center. For more information about becoming a volunteer, call Ashland County Cancer Association at 419-281-1863.
About Ashland County Community Foundation
Ashland County Community Foundation advances philanthropy and improves the quality of life in Ashland County by connecting people who care with causes that matter. ACCF has awarded over $20 million in scholarships, grants and distributions.
About Ashland County Cancer Association
Ashland County Cancer Association provides Ashland County cancer patients with financial, nutritional, emotional, and educational support along with spiritual insight. ACCA is stand-alone, local organization that does not receive any funding from national organizations such as the American Cancer Society. The organization serves more than 300 patients annually.
