Beacon transportation program reinstated
After another meeting of the Beacon of Hope Board of Directors, Executive Director Nancy Buthman reported that funding for the recently halted transportation program has come from several directions.
“We received $5,000 from the United Way for this year, so I’m assuming we’ll also be able to get it next year. We also have $5,000 from an anonymous donor for this year as well as next year,” said Buthman.
In addition to these two resources, Buthman’s own son made a donation of $10,000, using funds that were allocated for a charitable contribution in his son’s memory, after his death. The hunt for another $10,000 in funding begins now, with a deadline of Dec. 31, 2020, which will guarantee a matching fund, securing the third year for the transportation program. The program, which was recently halted due to a lack of funding, has now officially been reinstated by the Beacon of Hope Board, with some stipulations.
“The program will be just for medical appointments and treatments,” said Buthman. “It will include one car and one driver.”
The bus and van, which were used before, are no longer a viable option financially, with the sale of both designated toward future funding for the program. Buthman, who is a nurse practitioner, resonates deeply with the community’s concern for residents to get the healthcare they need.
“She’s worked very hard to come up with the funding for this program,” said Elsie Stearns, who also serves on the Beacon of Hope Board of Directors. “I know it’s a lot to ask the community for help with the matching funds, but in a community like this, I feel certain that the need for transportation is near and dear to their hearts. Hopefully they’ll step up and match this $10,000, and then we’ll have sustainable transportation.”
When halting the program became necessary, the board made an official statement to reconsider reinstatement only if funding could be secured for two to three years, in an effort not to continuously open and close the program. At the board’s request, Buthman projected expenditures for the next three years, based on things such as maintenance, gas, insurance and the driver salary.
“In order to sustain the program we really needed to understand the numbers,” said Stearns. “We learned the hard way as we brought the program forward.”
The board conveyed that, under the new guidelines, the program will be a 24-hour-a-week commitment, which will not cover the need for transportation in its entirety. Their hope is that they will have additional volunteer drivers, designated on certain days every month, who use their own vehicle, along with the driving volunteers who have already committed.
The Beacon Board, as well as the community, suffered a great loss recently with the death of Beacon of Hope Board President Jane Bennington. In her absence, current Vice President Caryle Regan is acting as interim president.
“We feel the best thing we can do for Jane is to carry on her legacy. She was a dynamic force,” said Regan, who felt that the first meeting of the board after Bennington’s death went very well.
Stearns went on to say that being the president of the Beacon Board of Directors is likely one of the hardest jobs on the island, due to how much information the president must handle at any one time. The Beacon currently has more than 20 programs running simultaneously, helping those from infancy to those already in their twilight years.
“We have a very active board,” said Regan. “Not only are the people on the board but they’re also involved in various parts of the Beacon. What continuously amazes me is the fantastic teamwork that occurs.”
The board members agreed that they were elated by the funding that came in for the transportation program, and ensures the community of their continuation to maintain financial accountability and transparency for every Beacon program they offer.
“I guess because the Beacon feels so confident that the community will step up and bring the $10,000 by the end of this year, we will reinstate the program,” said Stearns.
To make a donation to the transportation or any other program directly, you can visit the Beacon of Hope at 5090 Doug Taylor Circle St. James City, FL, 33956, or call 239-283-5123.