Transportation Programs

Suppose the only option for parents to get their sick child to life-saving medical care was to use public transit. Imagine the physical and emotional strain—not to mention the risk of exposure to infection—of having to ride a bus, for instance, in order to reach the medical center where that child receives chemotherapy or a blood transfusion for sickle cell disease. What if the parents of a seriously ill child did not even have access to public transit and had no affordable way to take their child to treatment at all. Thanks to a philanthropic family who recognized how challenging transportation is for our families, we provide a dedicated van to patients treated at our Newark Valerie Fund Center, free of charge, so their families never have to worry about how they will get to treatment and check-ups. This ensures that the child is able to receive his or her treatment on a regular basis without added expense or strain on the family. The van also provides privacy and a sense of safety for the patient, particularly important if he or she is experiencing side effects from treatment.