Jenny's Story - Finding Hope One Ride at a Time

At 69 years old, Jenny Vander Meulen of Ypsilanti, Michigan, knows how quickly life can change—and how powerful the kindness of others can be.

Jenny and her husband, Dennis, have built a life together in Washtenaw County. When she's feeling well, she enjoys crocheting small stuffed animals for children, finding joy in creating something that brings others happiness.

That joy was interrupted when a series of neurological complications and other serious health conditions left Jenny bedridden for six months. Through determination, physical therapy, and unwavering perseverance, she slowly regained enough strength to transition from a wheelchair to a walker.

Her recovery required frequent medical care, with more than 25 appointments scheduled during one particularly challenging month. But getting to those appointments became another obstacle. Without reliable transportation, Jenny often relied on family and friends, and when rides weren't available, she was forced to miss important medical visits.

Everything changed when she connected with the Catch a Ride Network's Rides for Older Adults Initiative, supported by the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation and the Michigan Department of Transportation.

"It's been a blessing," Jenny says.

Reliable transportation allowed her to focus on healing instead of worrying about how she would get to her appointments. Today, she shares information about the Catch a Ride Network with anyone who might benefit, hoping others won't face the same challenges she experienced. She also continues to care for her family, opening her home to her adult daughter as she rebuilds her life after divorce.

Jenny's story is one of resilience, compassion, and hope. Thanks to reliable transportation, healthcare is no longer out of reach—it is a pathway to continued healing.

Her message to others is simple:

"Don't give up. There is always hope."