Van Arrives at RWSV

Van 3 — Ridgewood at Shenango Valley residents Elizabeth Ellis, Joyce Gee, Frances Krznar, Anna Gross and Gordon Urmson are ready to take the new wheelchair accessible van for a ride.

The Ridgewood at Shenango Valley is thrilled to announce the arrival of our new wheelchair accessible van, a 2024 Chrysler Pacifica, to provide much-needed transportation services for our residents.

It replaces a 1999 Volkswagen Eurovan, which can no longer be used to transport residents in wheelchairs due to modern safety requirements. This upgrade will significantly improve comfort, safety and accessibility for The Ridgewood’s residents.

The van will be used to take residents to vital healthcare appointments, such as doctor visits, treatment and testing throughout the region, as well as off-campus community events, such as voting in elections, attending concerts and live performances and enjoying social outings like dining out, shopping and sight-seeing.

The purchase was made possible through a special fundraising campaign that began at the end of 2023. Thanks to the generosity of multiple individuals, businesses and foundations, a total of $65,000 was raised by the end of September 2024.

The van was purchased from MobilityWorks Commercial in Monroeville, Pa. and arrived at The Ridgewood at Shenango Valley on October 30. It is equipped with an ADA compliant rear entry wheelchair accessible conversion with a fold-out ramp. It is able to seat up to five passengers and up to two in wheelchairs.

“The residents and staff at The Ridgewood Shenango Valley are so very thankful for the overwhelming support we received from the community during our van campaign,” said Jonelle Haynie, Administrator at The Ridgewood at Shenango Valley. “The van will surely enhance our already robust Life Enrichment Department and allow for even more outing opportunities.”

The Ridgewood at Shenango Valley would like to extend a special thank you to the following organizations for their generous support of this project: the Community Foundation of Western PA & Eastern OH, Goodrick Family Foundation, T.J. Kavanagh Foundation, James F. McCandless Charitable Trust, O’Brien Children Memorial Fund, Rose/Harnett Family Foundation, Shenango Valley Foundation Betterment of the Valley Fund, St. Paul’s, UPMC Horizon Hospital, UPMC Horizon Foundation and the Winner Foundation.

For more information about The Ridgewood at Shenango Valley, please contact Haynie at 724-347-0998, email jhaynie@rwsv.org or visit www.rwsv.org.