Accessing medical care away from home can be difficult at best. The added strain of trying to get across the country or even across the state can be overwhelming. Then families are referred to specialists outside their area, it does them little good if they can't get to where the medical assistance is. In an effort to try to ease the burden of travel for these families, Eblen Travel was created. Each year hundreds of families are assisted in their journey to better health.

Eblen Travel

The Eblen Travel Assistance Program

The initial idea of the Eblen Charities began with the thought of helping families travel to hospitals outside Western North Carolina. Even though Eblen grew rapidly to encompass other needs, the travel assistance program has remained a cornerstone in its outreach. Whether traveling near home or to another part of the country, the Eblen Travel Assistance Program helps provide help with gasoline, food, and lodging. Thanks to the continued support of the Biltmore Oil Company/Citgo/Eblen Short Stop Stores, who help provide the gasoline, families have one less obstacle to overcome.

Wings of Care Flight Program

Created to better assist children and their families obtain the treatment they need, but cannot get locally, the Wings of Care Flight Program flies nationwide to bring children closer to medical care. Beginning in the fall of 2000, Wings of Care works with commercial airlines, private corporate planes, donated frequent flier miles, and other donors to secure air travel.