Penquis receives $30,000 grant from Walmart

Penquis has received a grant from the Walmart Foundation that is helping individuals with a cancer diagnosis access their medical treatment. The $30,000 grant is helping to fund the Penquis Access to Cancer Care program which provides transportation assistance to cancer treatment for individuals living in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties.

“For individual living in rural areas the financial burden of traveling to treatment is just one of the barriers to getting the care they need,” stated Marcia Larkin, Penquis Lynx Mobility Services director,

Access to Cancer Care provides reimbursement per mile to individuals who can drive themselves or to family members or friends who are providing transportation. The program also has trained drivers who will pick the individual up at their home and provide the transportation. Some individuals are without reliable transportation, or don’t have anyone to take them to their appointments or, in some cases, just don’t feel well enough to drive themselves,” Larkin said.  

“We are very thankful for the funding from the Walmart Foundation. Currently it has allowed us to provide 1,327 trips, totaling 75,334 miles, for 55 individuals who otherwise would have found it very difficult to access their cancer treatment,” Larkin said..

One customer shared, “Providing transportation is one less thing I have to worry about. It makes it easier for me to just focus on getting better.”The Walmart Foundation awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process.  

“Walmart is proud to support Penquis,” said Chris Buchanan, Walmart director of public affairs and government relations. “We welcome the opportunity to help people in our communities live better, and to support those affected by this difficult illness.”