Staff of Whole Family Health with the van purchased with a grant from the John’s Island Foundation, from left to right, Allison Zukowski, Carly Pye, Marie Andress, Sara Dingwall, and Laura Graze

FORT PIERCE – When a community unites to help those in need, the ripple effect is a powerful thing. When Whole Family Health Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit provider of healthcare services with offices in Vero Beach and Fort Pierce, was awarded a grant from the John’s Island Foundation for the purchase of a new van to transport patients to its facilities, it sparked support from other members of the John’s Island community.

“We are beyond thankful and honored for the generosity of the John’s Island Foundation,” says Whole Family Health Center CEO Marie Andress. “One of the greatest obstacles to care for our patients is transportation to their medical and diagnostic appointments. Having the ability to provide transportation to our underserved patients will allow us to better serve our clients and ensure they receive the medical care they need.”

The John’s Island Foundation provides Capital Funding to organizations that are primarily directed toward supporting basic human needs including assistance with disabilities and health issues. Whole Family Health had a van that was in need of replacement and the $25,000 grant allowed for the purchase of a new van to assist with safe non-emergency transport.

The assistance did not end there. Ron Rosner, a resident of the John’s Island community and owner of Rosner Motorsports, went above and beyond to shop, locate, and facilitate the purchase and delivery of a 2019 seven-passenger Dodge Caravan for transport to the centers.

Currently, the transportation offered was able to operate only 20 to 30 hours per week. Now that the John’s Island community has come together to assist Whole Family Health with the purchase of a new reliable vehicle the center will be able to transport upward of 120 to 140 patients a month to and from their centers to receive medical care.

“Our mission is to provide high quality and accessible health care services to adults and children regardless of their ability to pay,” says Andress. “The addition of this van to our centers allows for even more accessible healthcare which will allow us to serve even more people in our community.”

For appointments and more information about free transportation services call Whole Family Health Center at 772.468.9900 in Fort Pierce and 772.257.5785 in Vero Beach, and visit the website at www.wholefamilyhealthcenter.org.

About the Whole Family Health Center
Whole Family Health Center was established in April 2013 by a group of dedicated individuals from the Treasure Coast who decided to expand the scope of service at their existing medical facility by offering comprehensive primary care services to the community regardless of patient’s socio-economic status and ability to pay. The health center occupies two medical practices; in Fort Pierce and Vero Beach. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation dedicated to the delivery of compassionate healthcare to all. For appointments or to donate call Whole Family Health at 772.468.9900 in Fort Pierce and 772.257.5785 in Vero Beach, and visit the website at www.wholefamilyhealthcenter.org.

This article was distributed through Treasure Coast Business, a news service for the readers and advertisers of Indian River Magazine.