Hundreds of Maine families to be helped in third year of Fuel the Care
The public can also support children in need of medical treatment
BANGOR, ME – It can be a long trip between home and hospital, especially when the loved one in need of care is a child. But for thousands of families the journey has been made easier with the help of Irving’s Fuel the Care program.
That’s the assessment of the nearly 3,000 New England families who have benefited from Fuel the Care since it began in 2003. The program will be launched again this year as Irving Oil makes its annual Fuel the Care donation of $50,000 to participating hospitals affiliated with the Children’s Miracle Network in Maine.
The program also has a new twist. “This year, we hope to be able to help many additional families because, for the first time, local residents will have a chance to contribute to this program,” said Harry Hadiaris, Irving’s director of convenience retail operations. “Simply look for a Fuel the Care coin box at your favorite Bluecanoe or Mainway convenience store. All of the funds donated will help children travel outside of their local communities to receive the medical care they need.”
Nearly 7,000 families in New England and Atlantic Canada have been helped through the Irving’s Fuel the Care program. More than 2,300 families have benefited from the program in Maine alone. The assistance comes in the form of Fuel the Care gift certificates issued by the participating hospitals to eligible families during what can be a stressful financial time. The gift certificates can then be redeemed at area Bluecanoe, Mainway and Big Stop locations for gasoline or other sundries.
“Any family going through a serious illness experiences an anxious, uncertain time. When it is a child, it is especially difficult,” said Hadiaris. “Through the Fuel the Care program, we hope to reduce this stress as much as we can. When families are together, everybody feels better.”
The Children’s Miracle Network of the Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems includes Acadia Hospital in Bangor, Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle, Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital in Greenville, Pathfinders Program for Grieving Children at Bangor Area Visiting Nurses, Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Inland Hospital in Waterville and Sebasticook Valley Hospital in Pittsfield.
Families who feel they may be eligible for the Fuel the Care gift certificates should call their individual caseworkers at the specific Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems hospital at which their child is being treated for more information. Hospital administrators feel the program has had a direct and positive result on the health of the patients.
According to Nancy Dysart, director of CMN at Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, when families are unable to travel, medical appointments and treatments are sometimes postponed or even cancelled. “When health care is provided in a timely and appropriate manner, larger and more costly health issues can possibly be averted,” said Dysart. “Because Fuel the Care helps so many families get to the hospital for their scheduled visits, it has a huge impact on the quality of healthcare we provide.” Dysart told the story of one northern Maine family who traveled 14,000 miles in an 18-month period so their teenager could receive his dialysis treatment three times a week. The father had lost most of his income at the time, said Dysart, and the Fuel the Care gift certificates were a necessity to keep the hospital visits up to date. The young man eventually received a successful kidney transplant, and he’s on his way toward living a long and happy life. “Irving is making a real difference,” said Dysart. “I don’t think they even really know the impact they have made.”
Children benefiting from the program also receive a stuffed ladybug character known as “Ellie” to keep them company as they travel to and from the hospital for care. The program has served families from the entire length and breadth of the State of Maine.
“These parents want to be near and care for their child,” said Dysart, “And there are so many things to worry about during that time, such as who will pick up the other kids at school? But with Fuel the Care there is a little bit of the worry taken out of the travel.”
Irving’s Hadiaris said these are the kinds of stories that demonstrate the program’s value. “We are motivated by this success,” he said. “And we are proud to continue our support for Maine and Vermont families with our Fuel the Care program.” Fuel the Care is also affiliated with the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth- Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, where more than 620 families have been assisted since 2003.
About Children’s Miracle Network
The Children’s Miracle Network is the largest non-profit foundation for pediatric services in North America, and is composed of more than 170 hospital affiliations throughout the United States and Canada. Its purpose is to raise funds and community awareness for children's services available at local hospitals. CMN is unique in that 100 percent of the money raised in this area stays here to benefit the children of Eastern Maine Healthcare.
About Irving
Founded in 1924, Irving Oil is the regional refining and marketing company focused on customer service and supply chain management. Irving has been serving customers in New England and Eastern Canada since opening its first store in Bangor, Maine in 1972. Irving serves customers in New England with a range of finished energy products, including gasoline, diesel, home heating fuel, lubricants, jet fuel and complementary products and services. The company's network of Bluecanoe and Mainway convenience stores offer customers a wide variety of products and services, including grocery and snack items, bakeries, and convenience items, in addition to fuel. In 2003, Irving became the first oil company to win a USEPA Clean Air Excellence award for its low sulfur gasoline. Irving’s marketing office is located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Media Contacts:
Nancy Dysart
Director, CMN of Eastern Maine Healthcare
(207) 973-5055
Rob Wilson
Irving Oil, Public Affairs
(603) 559- 8818
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