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Insoxicated
Disclaimer: this is my Jeep club but this wasn't my idea, nor have I been out driving (sold my keep)... just have been trying to help with logistics and media requests.
TLDR: Jeep Club gives thousands of free rides to healthcare workers to keep hospitals/clinics staffed during ice storm and pandemic.
Much of the south is iced over pretty good and Memphis is no exception. We got close to a foot of snow on top of nearly an inch of ice. Bad juju. City ground to a halt with no real blow/salt infrastructure to speak of.
A bunch of members of Midsouth Jeep club got together and started giving rides to healthcare workers. Then the club officers got involved and an ad-hoc dispatch and ride request system was put in place. Then more members got involved... The results have been incredible:
- Over 3000 ride requested so far
- Over 2000 rides given to healthcare workers and first responders so far
- Over 150 Jeep drivers covering north Mississippi, East Arkansas, West Tennessee 24 hours a day
- Hospitals now relying completely on service to stay open, sending employees direct to us.
- No money accepted. Hospitals have offered to contract and pay for rides. The club/members have flatly refused compensation.
- Centralized text group with dispatchers, 70+ core drivers working around the clock
- Members have been assisting stuck police, fire and ambulance units across the city as well.
- Other runs that have been accepted. Are medicine/supply runs to assisted living facilities... driving organ donor couriers to airport or to recipients (one was Be The March marrow for a cancer patient).
- Some drivers running 16-18 hours a day, logging 400+ miles and 4-5 tanks of gas out of their own pockets.
- We've had about 8 members' jeeps damaged between broken axles, being rear ended, etc. The club is looking into offsetting repair expenses.
- Outpouring of support from healthcare workers and the community has been amazing. A true feel good story during a crappy time.
If anyone wants to see some images or read some of the stories, search "Mid South Jeeps" on Facebook and join the Group (not page). It's a really positive slice of humanity. I couldn't be more proud of this club and its members.
TLDR: Jeep Club gives thousands of free rides to healthcare workers to keep hospitals/clinics staffed during ice storm and pandemic.
Much of the south is iced over pretty good and Memphis is no exception. We got close to a foot of snow on top of nearly an inch of ice. Bad juju. City ground to a halt with no real blow/salt infrastructure to speak of.
A bunch of members of Midsouth Jeep club got together and started giving rides to healthcare workers. Then the club officers got involved and an ad-hoc dispatch and ride request system was put in place. Then more members got involved... The results have been incredible:
- Over 3000 ride requested so far
- Over 2000 rides given to healthcare workers and first responders so far
- Over 150 Jeep drivers covering north Mississippi, East Arkansas, West Tennessee 24 hours a day
- Hospitals now relying completely on service to stay open, sending employees direct to us.
- No money accepted. Hospitals have offered to contract and pay for rides. The club/members have flatly refused compensation.
- Centralized text group with dispatchers, 70+ core drivers working around the clock
- Members have been assisting stuck police, fire and ambulance units across the city as well.
- Other runs that have been accepted. Are medicine/supply runs to assisted living facilities... driving organ donor couriers to airport or to recipients (one was Be The March marrow for a cancer patient).
- Some drivers running 16-18 hours a day, logging 400+ miles and 4-5 tanks of gas out of their own pockets.
- We've had about 8 members' jeeps damaged between broken axles, being rear ended, etc. The club is looking into offsetting repair expenses.
- Outpouring of support from healthcare workers and the community has been amazing. A true feel good story during a crappy time.
If anyone wants to see some images or read some of the stories, search "Mid South Jeeps" on Facebook and join the Group (not page). It's a really positive slice of humanity. I couldn't be more proud of this club and its members.
