SNAP, Cancer Can’t Partner to Support Cancer Patients with Transportation
“I was scared,” says Twyla. “When you’re a healthy person, you don’t ever think about what it’s like to be unhealthy.”
Twyla recently discovered she has breast cancer, learning the news back in April. After three agonizing weeks, Twyla was able to get in to receive a biopsy. The biopsy took place on a Monday, where doctors discovered one lymph node was cancerous. By the time she had her CT scan that Friday, there were four cancerous lymph nodes.
“The cancer in my nodes was still tiny, very little at this point,” says Twyla. “The doctors told me that if we start chemo on Monday, we can do this.”
That Monday, Twyla’s driver came to take Twyla from rural Republic to Spokane’s South Hill.
For several years, SNAP has offered transportation services for Spokane County neighbors in need of medical support with their ‘SNAP Resource Rides’ program. A local nonprofit, Cancer Can’t, has been providing support for cancer patients since 2014. In January, SNAP and Cancer Can’t joined forces to expand transportation support for vulnerable neighbors in need of making it to their treatments.
This service comforted Twyla on her first day of chemotherapy.
SNAP and Cancer Can’t – a True Partnership
Jonathan Van Keulen founded Cancer Can’t after he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (a form of bone cancer) in 2014. As Jonathan battled cancer for over a year, he and his wife, Becky, got to know other patients diagnosed with cancer and saw a huge need for helping adult cancer patients.
“There are a lot of nonprofits that fundraise for pediatric cancer,” says Emily Grankowski, Director of Outreach for Cancer Can’t. “But there are very few that provide resources for adults battling cancer. Cancer Can’t wanted to be that needed support.”
Jonathan sadly passed away, leaving behind his wife and two little boys. He also left a legacy in the form of Cancer Can’t.
Although Cancer Can’t helps adult cancer patients with a variety of needs (such as assistance with supplemental bills, lodging, and helping families provide Christmas gifts), their biggest service is their transportation program.
“When I started two years ago, we had four volunteer drivers,” says Grankowski. “Now we have 46 and are driving close to 200 patients a month to treatment.”
There are limited transportation options in Spokane County, but many patients with cancer do not have their needs met with buses or rideshare services – nor is it guaranteed that insurance will cover these expenses. That’s where Cancer Can’t fills in a critical community gap.
However, Cancer Can’t is still fairly small, and after the American Cancer Society closed their doors when COVID hit, it left Cancer Can’t to fill an even larger community need with their limited staffing.
This is where SNAP comes in.
As SNAP already has an operational and fairly robust volunteer driver program titled ‘Neighbors on the Go,’ it was a seamless fit to assign SNAP to conduct volunteer orientations, schedule rides, answer questions and cover gas mileage for volunteers.
“The last thing cancer patients need is to worry about transportation,” says Grankowski. “With SNAP, we are able to make it as easy as possible for them to access treatment.”
Patients who receive rides through this service will be greeted by a volunteer who is fully-vaccinated and masked. Rather than wait for the patient to come to the car, the driver will knock on the door and help the rider to the car – as well as wait for them to get safely inside the buildings for their appointments.
Not only do patients benefit from this partnership, but SNAP and Cancer Can’t benefit as well.
“SNAP has been instrumental in getting this program moved over,” says Grankowski. “They made it such an easy process.”
Grankowski cites SNAP’s seamless processing of applications and paperwork, how quickly they onboard volunteers while they’re still excited and great reliability and availability to schedule rides. Thanks to this partnership, the agencies have not yet had to turn a patient down for a ride. The collaboration between SNAP and Cancer Can’t made this possible.
“We struggled to find volunteer drivers in the middle of COVID. Few people want to volunteer to drive strangers around in their car amid a pandemic,” says Garrett Havens, SNAP’s Resource Rides Coordinator. “But Cancer Can’t has been great at bringing in volunteers.”
Since the partnership began, Cancer Can’t was able to recruit 35 additional volunteers, which has allowed both nonprofits to increase the number of medical rides provided to the community.
“Having this opportunity available at no cost to these folks is a really positive and powerful thing,” says Havens. “We have had really great feedback, and it’s been really exciting to launch this partnership.”
Patients
Twyla was among the riders who volunteered a rave review about her experience.
As she attempted to process the news of her cancer diagnosis, Twyla struggled to pay attention to and focus on logistics.
“Transportation is one tiny little issue compared to the surgeries, chemo, the scheduling of tests,” says Twyla. “It’s mind-boggling. It’s so much. I’m so grateful my driver just shows up at my door when it’s time for treatment, and I don’t have to worry about it.”
For Twyla, the rides she receives are more than a way to get from Point A to Point B. The human contact and reassurance from her drivers also helped to calm her frayed nerves.
“I was scared to death,” says Twyla, as she waited for her first session of chemo. “But my driver arrived, and she was a welcomed sight with a big smile on her face. I can just tell she radiated good.”
Twyla explains that her driver’s presence made a big difference and was able to calm her right down.
“The beauty of the whole thing is she didn’t really do something special,” says Twyla. “She was just someone who lights up. She helped me because of who she is, the fact that she loves people enough to be able to do this work.”
Volunteers – Cancer Can’t volunteers are SNAP volunteers too
“A lot of the volunteers have gone through cancer themselves, or had family members who have,” says Grankowski. “They know it’s so necessary, and are just giving back.”
Sue Witte is one of those volunteers.
Witte was neighbors with Jonathan and Becky, who founded Cancer Can’t. She knew their little boys since they were babies, and explains she was their “neighborhood grandparent.” She started as a board member for Cancer Can’t, typically helping with their annual fundraising auction. Her involvement shifted when Witte was seated next to a SNAP driver at a Cancer Can’t auction one year. SNAP’s driver told her about how rewarding her experience has been with the transportation service, ultimately convincing Witte to join.
“This was almost three years ago,” says Witte. “I love it, absolutely love it.”
Like many of this program’s volunteers, Witte is no stranger to cancer. Her father passed away from lung cancer, and her mother survived cancer. This experience, Witte explains, helps power her through the tougher days.
“I guess I’m just hopeful for each of them that they will survive and beat this, because so many people do,” says Witte. “They seem very hopeful and speak fondly of their care teams. Them being hopeful – gosh, you have to be. That’s half the battle.”
Witte also finds reward in the small moments she shares with the riders. Although Witte had several stories to share about her time volunteering, they all had a common thread: Connection.
One woman Witte drove reminded her of a beloved family member. On their first trip, both Witte and her passenger talked about their families and where they were from. At one point, the rider told a heartbreaking story about one of her family members.
“I remember I was in tears by the time I dropped her off,” says Witte. “She reminded me so much of my mother-in-law. So sweet and petite.”
As the ride ended, Witte got out of the car to open the door for her passenger. Witte remembers looking at the rider and feeling overcome with care and connection.
“I said, ‘Do you mind if I give you a hug?'” says Witte. “And she said, ‘Gosh, I was hoping you’d ask!'”
Over the next six weeks, Witte drove this passenger several times. She still speaks fondly of this connection.
“It’s those little things,” says Witte. “A simple heartfelt thank you is just so rewarding.”.
The riders are incredibly grateful. Twyla was so grateful, in fact, that she decided to donate to SNAP.
“I have been the recipient of the kindness of an angel who works for your agency, and I’d like to make a donation,” says Twyla. “I want to support the people who support me.“
If you would like to become a volunteer driver for the Cancer Can’t program, or any of SNAP’s driver needs, click below to sign up.