Hillside on the Move: The Vital Role of Our Mobile Vehicles - Boni Borger, Medical Director
When you think about Hillside, the iconic image of our mobile vehicles might be the first thing that comes to mind. These massive, bright white behemoths are integral to our day-to day activities. Whether transporting volunteers, staff, and students to our mobile clinics, facilitating our monthly activities, or navigating bustling markets on Wednesdays and Fridays, these vehicles are essential to Hillside’s mission.
Their job is not easy. If you’ve visited the Toledo District of Belize, you know the roads are far from smooth. Dirt, rocks, and potholes created by torrential rains present constant obstacles. Our vehicles expertly handle these challenges, but not without consequences. Regular maintenance is necessary to keep them running smoothly. Each car is serviced every 1,200 miles to ensure it is in good working condition, and minor repairs are required frequently due to wear and tear from the rough roads. In Belize, obtaining vehicle parts can be difficult; a single part might take sever al weeks to arrive, leaving the vehicle out of commission. For example, one of our 2012 models was out of service for several years due to a damaged part, requiring multiple phone calls, orders, and lengthy customs delays to secure the correct replacement. Ensuring these vehicles are ready to go is no small task.
Many long-term volunteers arrive not knowing how to drive manual vehicles, making it one of their first goals to master the art of the stick shift. All the volunteers I have seen have risen to the challenge and conquered the mobile. Though I have years of experience with manual driving, I’ve felt fear when navigating the steep hills to San Jose Village. I once mistakenly backed up into what I thought was beautiful green grass, only to find myself stuck in soft mud as the tires spun. Thankfully, villagers from Eldridgeville rushed to my aid and helped tow me out, though not without a good dose of embarrassment and a surge of adrenaline. The vehicle emerged unscathed and was back on the road to our next home health patient.
Our mobile vehicles are crucial to our operations. If any of them are out of commission, our daily activities and ser vices will be significantly impacted. One of our goals is to raise funds for a new vehicle or secure a private donation, as our current vehicles are aging and re quire more maintenance. Please keep us in mind for your donations so we can continue our vital work!