Transporting our clients to and from their medical appointments is a key community support service, but it has never been as important as it is now in the shadow of COVID-19.

Carefor’s non-urgent transportation program offers flexible and affordable transportation to help individuals unable to access other means of transportation to local and out of town medical appointments. In 2018-2019 alone, the program gave more than 57,000 rides to nearly 4,000 people.

When driver Bob Derro, locally known as radio DJ Brother Bob, was asked if he was comfortable to continue providing transportation services during this difficult time, he agreed without hesitation.

“There’s got to be people who step up,” he says.

Providing this service isn’t only a job for Bob, it’s a time to be there for someone during their greatest time of need. “You have to be a comforting spirit in troubled times, and that’s our job here at Carefor,” he says, touching on the importance of lending an ear and spreading positivity.

For seniors like Betty, finding transportation can be one of the hardest parts of getting care. Often, seniors do not have access to standard vehicles or to accessible vehicles for those with disabilities.

“Without them, I wouldn’t be anywhere,” she says. “You’re not just their job, you’re their friend.”

Betty isn’t the only passenger with that sentiment, Bob says everyone he has driven has expressed a tremendous amount of gratitude for the care they’ve received amid the coronavirus pandemic: “It makes it all worthwhile.”

For many of our passengers, this service is a matter of life or death: “People still need their life-saving treatments, such as dialysis and chemotherapy.”

He adds: “It’s an honour to be serving out here on the front lines.”

To learn more about Transportation services, click here or email us at info@carefor.ca. Support our Carefor Heroes by giving at carefor.ca/donate.