Heal our Wheels
Through community donations and a $25,000 major gift, we surpassed our goal and raised $35,780 for a new Sorrentino’s Compassion House van! Because of you, we’ll be able to replace our van that was written off in a collision and once again safely and conveniently transport our guests to-and-from cancer treatment.
On behalf of our entire organization and the women we serve, thank you for your generosity and compassion.
About our Van
Operated by staff and volunteer drivers, our Sorrentino’s Compassion House van is mainly used to transport guests—women from across Alberta and western Canada who have traveled to Edmonton for cancer treatment—to appointments and throughout the city during their stay at the House.
The Need
Normally, the Cross Cancer Institute provides a free, volunteer-run shuttle service from our House directly to the Cross. However, with COVID-19, the Cross had to temporarily shut-down the shuttle service, and it’s not expected to re-open anytime soon.
To help, we began transporting guests using our van and have continued to do so multiple times daily as the pandemic continues. Private transportation makes appointments easier and is a safer alternative to public transportation like buses, taxis, and ride-shares for our already immunocompromised guests.
On January 28, another driver hit our van while a volunteer was driving two guests to their appointments. The volunteer and guests weren’t hurt in the collision and continue to do well, but our van suffered a significant amount of damage, writing it off.
We have continued to support guests using taxis and a rental vehicle covered by our insurance, but we need a stable, long-term solution. We need another van.