Local church helping to transport patients

Dec 18, 2019 | 6:43 PM

A local church is filling the void in transporting people to their medical appointments after the demise of STC in 2017.

Grace United Church has a team of volunteer drivers but are facing challenges sustaining their program.

“I don’t know if bringing a bus service back is feasible at this point but it really has had a big impact on communities like Meadow Lake that are a little more northern and a little more remote which involves people needing to travel quite a bit for medical reasons,” Jessica Walters, acting city manager told meadowlakeNOW.

Walters added the city signed a petition in October this year asking the province to address the decline in transportation services.

Church minister SunDo Hyun said he heard some residents were considering leaving the city all together because of the transit challenges presented in making it to out-of-town appointments.

Riderville

Now for the Hard Part

Everything you wanted and more

Nov 21, 2025

He says volunteers will drive their own or patient’s vehicles to North Battleford, Saskatoon or Lloydminster for medical appointments.

“Patients can make a donation to the church, if they’d like, but the patient only pays for fuel, parking and meals,” Hyun said.

In a transcribed statement presented by members of Grace United Church addressed to MLA Jeremy Harrison in October, members expressed concerns, citing deteriorating vehicles, aging drivers and a dissatisfaction for Social Services and its appropriation of funds. Members asked Harrison to conduct a study on the matter.

Harrison was unable to comment before deadline.

Walters says she doesn’t foresee any changes to public transit coming soon.

—

nicole.reis@jpbg. ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722

by Nicole Reis

View Comments

Local church helping to transport patients

What's Trending