What is LIFT Grundy?

When we think about health, it’s easy to picture doctors, hospitals, and medicines. But real community health is about more than that. It’s about connection. It’s about whether we can reach the care, the food, and the people who help us thrive. That’s why transportation is SO important.

Think about it:

• A patient with no way to get to her dialysis appointment three times a week.

• A neighbor who couldn’t move into stable housing because they had no way to get to the utility office in person.

• A young person missing work or school because there’s no ride.

These aren’t rare struggles — they’re everyday realities here in Grundy County. And they don’t just affect health. They affect dignity, independence, and connection to community.

That’s where our new initiative, LIFTGrundy comes in. LIFT stands for Let’s Improve Futures Together. It’s not just a name — it’s a promise. This work isn’t about one organization or one grant; it’s about all of us, together, building a healthier future for Grundy County.

Earlier this year, the community fund was awarded a $2 million grant from the Tennessee Department of Health to do something about this. Our vision is to build a comprehensive health mobility network — a network where transportation supports health, instead of standing in the way. We’re planning to use this money to build out the network in 2 main ways:

1. Strengthening what already exists

We’re working with five community partners — including Beersheba Springs Medical Clinic, South Cumberland Community Clinic, and SETHRA — providing resources like vans, staff funding, and Community Health Workers. By investing in organizations that are already trusted here, we make the whole system stronger.

2. Creating a network of volunteer drivers

These neighbors use their own vehicles, receive training and support, and are reimbursed for mileage. Most importantly, they help people in their own community get where they need to go. This isn’t just about rides. It’s about weaving transportation into the fabric of health and well-being.

In our first three months, the wheels are already turning:

• SETHRA has hired a Community Health Worker, expanded trips with support from the grant, and will soon purchase another van.

• Beersheba Springs Medical Clinic and South Cumberland Community Clinic also have CHWs walking alongside patients and connecting them to resources. All three CHWs are part of an apprenticeship program, building skills that will strengthen this community well beyond the life of the grant. 

• MOSAIC and GRACE are providing transportation for people in recovery from substance use. MOSAIC is purchasing a van, and both organizations are paying drivers so people can access the care and support they need to stay on their recovery journey.

• We’re preparing to launch the volunteer driver network — neighbors helping neighbors by using their own cars, with training, support, and mileage reimbursement.

• And we’re committed to learning as we go. That’s why we’re building in opportunities for evaluation and feedback — from riders, drivers, healthcare providers, and local leaders — to make sure this system is reliable and reflects what our community really needs.

By the end of this grant, Grundy County will have a stronger, more reliable transportation system that supports community health and well-being. Our vision is simple: a county where health is possible for everyone — because transportation is never the reason someone misses care or feels cut off from their community.