In 2023, Matthew 25 discovered that over a six-month period, at least 250 patients missed appointments due to a lack of transportation. Many of their more than 5,000 patients face difficulties accessing medical care because they either do not have reliable transportation, cannot drive, or lack a driver’s license. Michelle Creager, the executive director of Matthew 25, was concerned about this issue. She connected with Lara Schreck, the executive director of St. Vincent de Paul Society, who manages the Care Van program. The Care Van provides transportation to and from medical appointments through volunteer drivers.

Matthew 25 and St. Vincent de Paul Society then strategized a way to provide free transportation to more Matthew 25 patients for their appointments. Their collaboration was so successful that they identified the need for a second van and approached the St. Joe Foundation. After Foundation trustees heard the compelling story and reviewed the collaboration’s results, they awarded a $75,000 grant to this joint effort to purchase a new Toyota Sienna van, equipped with a wheelchair lift. This new van is scheduled to be in service by early fall 2024. In the meantime, the existing Care Van continues to assist Matthew 25 patients on a limited basis, which benefits several hundred patients.

Stephanie Smith, the development director at Matthew 25, reported, “Many of Matthew 25’s patients have been sharing words of gratitude for our new transportation service. They have reported to our nursing staff and social worker that many of them would have to cancel their medical and dental appointments without the Care Van program. This new initiative has been a blessing for our low-income, uninsured patients who desperately need medical care but don’t have a reliable form of transportation to access our clinic. One individual reported having to use Uber services for every appointment. She can now use that money to buy groceries for her family. When Matthew 25 goes the extra mile for our patients and supports them through transportation services, they experience renewed hope and confidence.”

Meg Distler, executive director of the St. Joe Foundation, commented, “Supporting transportation needs aligns closely with our values, inspired by Catholic Social Teaching, which honors the dignity of every person and addresses barriers that hinder the well-being of the poor and vulnerable. We are honored to partner with Matthew 25 Health and Care and St. Vincent de Paul Society in this way.”