Commun ty Matters Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor
October 2017
Misty Killman, transporation aide, pictured with our new Dodge minivan.
Living in hope Enjoying our new wheels
By Wayne Rector, resident Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor
Residents cruise in style with wheelchair-accessible van
I like dogs, and where we used to live our next door neighbor had three dogs which were kept in a pen. With their owners permission I was privileged to come over to per them and give them a treat occasionally.
Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor residents have a new, smoother way to ride to medical appointments. Thanks in part to a grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation, we were able to purchase a new wheelchairaccessible minivan.
When the dogs saw me outside their eyes were on me alertly, wondering is this the day that Wayne would come over to see them. And when I started over to the pen, the neighborhood was filled with sounds of their joyful anticipation. They lived in hope of that day. We as followers of Christ, live in the hope and assurance of our salvation, and in anticipation of our heavenly reward as we live by faith and seek to do God’s will. DEVOTION, continued on page 4
The 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan has a ramp and can seat four passengers, including two in wheelchairs, and it replaces a non-wheelchair accessible vehicle in our fleet. The van allows us more flexibility with resident doctor appointments and scheduling recreational, educational and therapeutic trips for residents, said Executive Director Sarah Griggs. It will be dedicated to transportation to and from medical appointments and hospital stays for both our PATH® residents and long-term care residents. Residents and staff members who have ridden in the van so far have really enjoyed it. Dorothy Bertrand said: “It rides really smooth, and it’s easy to get up in,” adding that she appreciates the handle to grip while boarding. Misty Killman, transportation aide, said the van rides much smoother than our larger vehicle, with less bouncing over bumps. That makes it more comfortable for residents coming home from the hospital or anyone who is more physically fragile. Thank you to local community members and friends of Presbyterian Manor who helped make this grant possible.