Full Circle of Care: Healing, Hope, and Giving Back
Loretta Meyer was living in Warsaw, Missouri, retired and going through a divorce when she found herself in what felt like an impossible situation to access lifesaving medical treatment.
It all started with a stinging sensation in her chest. When she touched the spot, she found a small lump.
I believe with all my heart that God showed it to me,” she said. “If it weren’t for that feeling, I wouldn’t have known.”
Her doctor confirmed what she already sensed. The lump was real—and serious. In just two weeks, it grew from the size of a pea to the size of a walnut. It was aggressive breast cancer.
Surgery was scheduled quickly, but that was just the beginning. Her treatment plan would require six weeks of radiation—daily appointments, five days a week.
There was just one problem. The nearest treatment center was 90 miles away in Independence, Missouri.
“I remember thinking, how am I going to do this?”
The cost of gas. The physical exhaustion. The distance. The worry. Her retirement income barely stretched far enough for the basics. Radiation would drain her body. Driving 180 miles a day would drain everything else.
Then a friend handed her a lifeline. “Call New Growth Transit,” she said.
Loretta made the call.
She was paired with Brett, a volunteer driver from Warsaw. Every weekday for six weeks, he picked her up and made the long trip to Independence and back. One day, when Loretta began experiencing chest pains on the way, Brett didn’t hesitate. He got her there quickly, made sure she received immediate attention upon arrival, and stayed until he knew she was safe.
“He went above and beyond,” Loretta said. “Always.”
The rides gave her more than transportation. They gave her strength, connection, and hope in the middle of a terrifying time.
“I got help when I needed it. Now I get to give back.”
Later after moving to Clinton, Loretta’s teenage grandchildren came to live with her. With only her retirement income and a little weekend work at a local antique shop, the budget is tight.
So when she saw New Growth Transit needed more drivers, she didn’t hesitate to step forward.
“If I didn’t love that little antique shop so much, I’d probably be driving for New Growth Transit seven days a week,” she says with a smile.
Now, she’s the one giving rides—to neighbors just like her, in moments just like the one she survived.
She speaks tenderly about the people she drives—some are frail, some are anxious, many have no other way to get where they need to go. She sees it in their eyes: the weariness, the quiet worry, and the deep gratitude. She helps them into the car when they need a little support. She listens without judgment, offers reassurance when she can, and always gives them the dignity of being seen and cared for.
“I’ve been in their seat,” she says. “I know what it feels like to need help and not know where to turn.”
Now, she’s honored to be that helping hand for someone else.
And the mileage reimbursement?
“It makes all the difference,” she says. “Every bit helps so much.”
Loretta calls it a blessing—twice over. First, the help. Now, the purpose.
“That call changed everything,” she says. “I just love this service.”
And now she’s the one answering the call—offering rides, offering comfort, and offering hope, one mile at a time.
Want to make a difference like Loretta?
Volunteer drivers are at the heart of New Growth Transit. In rural areas, long trips for medical care are part of daily life. In some counties, the distance to reach critical destinations is often over 50 miles.
Today, there’s a closer cancer treatment center to Warsaw than there was when Loretta needed it, but it’s still nearly 30 miles and 30 minutes away. For many, that's still out of reach without help.
Every ride a volunteer gives is more than just transportation. It’s peace of mind, a helping hand, and often, a source of hope during a difficult time.
As a volunteer driver, you choose your own schedule and receive mileage reimbursement. Just like Loretta, you may find that giving your time brings something valuable in return—purpose, connection, and the chance to truly change someone’s life.
🚗 Become a volunteer driver: Call 417-283-7991 or visit newgrowthtransit.org
💵Can’t drive but still want to help? You can still fuel the journey.
Your donation helps reimburse the miles our volunteers give with their time and hearts.
Donate online. Or mail donations to:
New Growth Transit
c/o West Central MO Community Action Agency
112 W 4th St, Appleton City, MO 64724
Together, we’re giving rural neighbors a lift—one mile, one story, one life at a time.