CMH Auxiliary donates $62,000 for new Health Transit van

CMH Foundation Services
• 11 September 2025

CMH Auxiliary donated $62,000 to CMH Health Transit to purchase a wheelchair-accessible van to replace an aging fleet vehicle.

“This vehicle replaces one of our aging units that we used daily but has had some major mechanical expenses in the last year,” said Jordan Hembree, CMH director of emergency services. “The van is capable of transporting two wheelchairs at the same time, while still having room for five other passengers. We were also able to upgrade the unit with a folding bench. With only one wheelchair, the van can seat nine other passengers.”

CMH Health Transit began in 1998. The service is available to private-pay residents or Medicaid recipients for medical-related appointments.

“Our volunteers work tirelessly to raise money to support our patients,” said Shantelle Posten, director of volunteers at CMH. “The Auxiliary hosts fundraisers throughout the year to fund many projects at our hospital, in our clinics, at our long-term care facilities and more.”

The auxiliary has 300 volunteers who donate more than 28,000 hours annually. Volunteers support CMH in a variety of ways, from staffing information desks to hosting fundraising events. The auxiliary donated more than $89,000 to CMH in the last year for purchases that improve the patient experience.

For more information about CMH Health Transit, call 417-777-5165. For more information about volunteering with the CMH Auxiliary, call Posten at 417-328-6432.

Photo: The CMH Auxiliary donated $62,000 to CMH Health Transit to purchase a wheelchair-accessible van that replaces an aging vehicle in the Health Transit fleet. Board members pictured are, from left, front row — Shantelle Posten, Sondra Gentry-Wright, Linda Grant, Lisa Lehman, Lissette Shire, Jennie Dunaway, Marilyn Bamber, Judy Gould and Emma Mincks; back row — Ray Runyon, Kent Brummell, Henry Bonner, Beverly Bonner, Judy Wollard, Loree Tedrow and Judy Runyon. Judy Johnson is not pictured.