N.C. carrier spreading word about hospice center campaign

Standing in front of a Waccamaw Transport truck are from left, Hector Perez, director of the Johnston Memorial Hospital Foundation; April Culver, vice president of government affairs for Johnston Health; Danny Page, vice president of Waccamaw, and Eric Pate, director of operations for Waccamaw. (Courtesy Johnson Health)

The Trucker News Services

4/7/2009

SELMA, N.C. — As it delivers gas along one of its busiest routes, a Selma, N.C.-based transport company is spreading the word about the capital campaign to build a hospice center in Johnston County.

Waccamaw Transport has plastered large decals of the campaign logo on both sides of three shiny tank trailers.

The tractor trailers supply gas to stations along U.S. Highway 70 in Clayton and beyond to Capital Boulevard in Raleigh and on to Cary.

“Most people know about hospice,” Danny Page, the company vice president who came up with the idea, said. “But they may not know about the SECU House in Johnston County.”

The capital campaign of the Johnston Memorial Hospital Foundation is raising $3.8 million to build an 18-bed inpatient and residential center on the former Bingham Park property behind the Johnston Medical Center campus in Smithfield.

The State Employees’ Credit Union Foundation earned naming rights after donating $1 million.

Page thinks Johnston residents who work in Wake County may see the tankers as they commute. And for residents of other counties, the rolling billboards may raise awareness about hospice services closer to home, he said.

Page said he’s schooled the drivers about the SECU Hospice House so they can answer questions along their route.

They carry brochures in case someone wants printed information about the project. A telephone number is included on the decal, which reflects light and can be seen at night.

Page says he’ll display the decals through the spring of 2009.

In addition, the company has contributed money to the campaign.

And he would like employees to remain involved, perhaps as volunteers, when the Hospice House opens later this year.

“We think it’s a wonderful project,” he said. “And we feel privileged and happy to support it.”

The Trucker staff can be reached to comment on this article at editor@thetrucker.com.