HANCOCK - High gasoline prices not only affect individuals, they affect organizations, such as Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, which is having difficulty paying for its medical transportation program.
Cindy Drake, LBFE medical transportation coordinator, said in order to help cover the costs of the transports, the organization will conduct a pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday at the LBFE offices at 527 Hancock St. in Hancock.
For $5, Drake said those attending will get all the pancakes they can eat, sausages and two tickets for a drawing for a 2003 Ford Mustang convertible. More raffle tickets are available for $3 each, $5 for two, $10 for four and $25 for 10.
Drake said the LBFE medical transportation program takes the organization's elderly friends to local doctors' offices and hospitals. The program also takes people to Marquette for medical care, and Drake said the number of people using that part of the service has significantly increased adding to fuel costs.
"I've had many more calls (for trips to Marquette)," she said. "We try to keep it to six trips a month."
The organization has a van with a wheelchair lift, and Drake said it helps when more than one person can be taken to Marquette at the same time. Some volunteer drivers will use their own vehicles to take people to Marquette, but they aren't compensated for gasoline costs.
Drake said LBFE can always use more volunteer drivers who have their own vehicles.
To volunteer, call Drake at 482-6944.
The pancake breakfast and other such fundraisers are a necessary function of LBFE, Drake said.
"These fundraisers are pretty important to keep us rolling," she said.