Family donates accessible van to Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario

It's a donation that will likely help thousands of people get around Windsor-Essex.

Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario just got the keys to a second-hand accessible van donated by a family in Windsor.

"It's a really great example of neighbours who care," said Lynn Calder, the agency's executive director.

"Transportation is always a challenge for people with physical disabilities.... this van will come in so handy."

She explained the agency often runsinto scheduling issues with transportation while helping clients. This vehicle will help provide more support to get clients to and from hospital visitsand getting them to community events.

The van was donated by the Wuerch family in Windsor.

Shirley Wuerch's 20-year-old son Nathan Wuerch has spina bifida and uses a wheelchair.

The family realized it was time to get a new van, and when it came time to trade in the old one, they decided it would be better off in the hands of a charity than at a car dealer.

That way, the van would continue to assist those who need accessible transportation.

"I'm just glad that people in wheelchairs can go around town using my old van," said Nathan.

Shirley saidshe's excited to keep an eye out for the van throughout the county in the future.

"We're going to be cheering it on when we see it in the streets," she said. "It's our pleasure to do this and it's the greatest thing that we've ever done."