The Squamish Hilltop House Support Society members are excited about a brand new bus that arrived at the Hilltop House on April 21.
Joining them in the excitement were volunteers and staff of Hilltop House, who watched and cheered on as the bus rolled in at the Hilltop House.
“The residents were very happy as they watched through the windows and thought about all the trips they are going to enjoy this summer,” said Christina Musselwhite, a treasurer with the society.
The new made-to-order, 10-seat bus, has six wheel-chair spots, and will be used for trips to town and excursions for Hilltop House residents.
In fact, the Squamish Hilltop House Support Society came to be formed because of the need for a wheel-chair-accessible bus. It was in 1992 that a small group of volunteers came together to form the society to purchase a van that would allow long-term care residents to be part of the community and run errands in town.
The fundraising campaign for a new bus began last year. The largest donation of $60,000 came from the Squamish Hospital Foundation.
Karyn Smith, the executive director of the society, would like to thank those who donated for the new bus.
Those who made the new bus possible with their generous donations are: Squamish Hospital Foundation ($60,000), Squamish General Hospital Women’s Auxiliary ($10,000), Whistler Blackcomb Foundation ($10,000), 100 Women Who Care Squamish ($10,000), Queens Way Industrial Lands Inc. ($5,000), Donald Carson ($2,500), Royal Canadian Legion ($2,000), Pat Marini ($2,000), Atlantic Power Corporation($500), St John The Devine Anglican Church ($393), Roy Shephard ($100), Marianne Wilson ($100) and Rilla Buckley ($100).
Meanwhile, the society is also looking for volunteer drivers.
If you have an unrestricted Class 4 licence and would like to volunteer, please contact the Hilltop House Activities department at 604-892-9337, extension 5, or email HilltopHouse.Activities@vch.ca.
You can also call Karyn Smith at 604-898-4101.
