Islanders get creative to obtain new wheels for organization
After the realization that the Beacon of Hope transportation program was a medical necessity, a plan to keep the program rolling finally got under way with the proper funding, thanks to the financial generosity of various islanders.
Financial advisor Jim Garnett and Beacon board member George Miller were concerned that the Beacon van might break down, leaving islanders stranded on their way to a medical appointment. Garnett said he and Miller talked with Beacon Community Program Director Nancy Buthman as well as other board members about acquiring a new vehicle.
“We thought if we could get 12 people to help us, by making one month’s payment each year, for three years, which is $350, we could get a new vehicle,” said Garnett. “So that’s what we did. We found 12 different families.”
With commitments from reliable islanders, Garnett said he and Miller went to Sam Galloway Ford in Fort Myers and asked if there might be a used vehicle with low mileage that could be used as a transit vehicle for Pine Islanders who need to get to doctor appointments. After finding and purchasing an appropriate vehicle, Garnett said they set their sights on doing a wrap.
“I called Scott Sweeney, the general manager of Lincoln and Sam Galloway Ford,” Garnett said. “The secretary told me he would likely not be able to call me back, but he did. He asked what he could do for me. I told him we’d like to get a wrap done and he said they could do that. He asked is there anything else I can do for you? I said yes, ‘I want you to pay for it.’ he said, ‘I can do that.'”
“The Beacon Buggy is for people in our community on Pine Island and in Matlacha to get to medical appointments,” said Miller. “We know there are people who have that need on the island and there’s no more important need than that. We get a great deal of support from the people of Pine Island and Matlacha. A large part of it is the Beacon of Hope is a Pine Island organization. We can’t emphasize strongly enough how supportive the people of Pine Island have been to the Beacon of Hope’s efforts, and this is one example.”