Both of Tom C.’s parents lived into their nineties. By the time they moved into a retirement community in their hometown of Urbana, Illinois, their grown children were scattered across the country.
When his parents could no longer drive, Tom looked for an organization that could provide affordable, door-to-door transportation for them. But there was not a service like Via in Urbana.
Tom and his siblings tried to make sure that at least one of them visited their parents every month. They did their best to schedule visits around their parents’ doctor appointments and other necessary tasks.
Soon, Tom noticed that his parents stopped doing many of the things they liked to do because of a lack of transportation. Simple activities like going to the library and having coffee with friends were no longer accessible. He was disappointed to see his parents losing their connections to the community that had sustained them for so long.
When Tom learned about Via, he understood the impact our services have on the lives of people with limited mobility. He said, “I like Via’s mission and recognize just how important transportation is to maintaining connections and engaging with others, so I wanted to support the organization.” Even though it wouldn’t help his parents, Tom became a Via donor.
Many of Via’s supporters will never use our services. Still, they understand how essential mobility is to the well-being of others. We’re thankful for their generosity and helping spirit.
Make a DonationNo rider is ever required to donate, and no one is ever denied service for not donating.