Aldergrove-based Langley Meals on Wheels is looking for a replacement van after ICBC declared its delivery vehicle a write-off following a recent collision.
Shannon Woykin, Langley Meals on Wheels Services Society’s executive director, got the bad news on Friday, April 12.
Funded with a donation from the United Way and costing about $25,000, the van had just 30,000 kilometres on it.
“It was a 2021. It wasn’t very old,” Woykin said.
“Now those vehicles, used, are going for $10,000 more than what we paid for.”
A volunteer driver was involved in a low-speed crash that caused damage to the side of the van in March.
It didn’t seem all that serious, but did trigger the van’s air bags, Woykin explained.
“Usually what they say is, if the airbags go off, you can guarantee it’s going to be a write-off,” Woykin told the Langley Advance Times.
The volunteer was found responsible for the collision.
No one was injured in the crash, and it happened after the van had made its deliveries.
“Nobody was hurt, so that’s all good,” Woykin said.
Meals on Wheels had delivered lunch meals to H.D. Stafford school earlier in the day.
“Everybody got their meals. We were just picking up empty containers.”
Used to transport food to other service providers, the van was delivering more than 1,000 meals a week.
“It also goes and picks up donations, and some of our food that we purchased from the local farmers. They go and pick that up in the van, too.”
Since the crash, Meal On Wheels has been getting by with a small loaner van from the Langley-based non-profit Encompass Support Services Society, while it waited for ICBC to make a determination.
We are “incredibly grateful to them for lending us their van,” a Meals On Wheels online thank-you said.
“Their generosity and community spirit mean the world to us!”
Meals on Wheels also thanked Envision Financial for a $1,000 donation to help with related costs after the crash.
”We are deeply grateful for their unwavering support!” another online statement said.
Now that the van has been declared a write-off by the insurer, Meals on Wheels is looking for a replacement.
An online appeal has been made for a low-mileage delivery van to transport meals and pick up donations.
Anyone who can help is asked to email info@lmow.ca.
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