Submitted by Laura Sostake
The Tri-Town 55+ Coalition will mark the first anniversary of Rides for Seniors with a special celebration at the Madison Area YMCA on May 23, 2018, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. The event is free and open to all residents although pre-registration is requested. Refreshments, entertainment, prize drawings and information on community services will be provided. To register, please call the Tri-Town 55+ Coalition at 862-246-6065 and provide you name and telephone number. Please note that all guests entering the YMCA must present a valid state/government-issued ID.
Since its launch in April 2017, the Rides for Seniors program has provided over 2400 subsidized rides for residents 65 and older living in Madison, Chatham Borough, and Chatham Township. More than 285 registered seniors have taken advantage of the on-demand car service to run errands, get to doctor’s appointments, go shopping or visit. loved ones. The Tri-Town 55+ Coalition started the program in partnership with GoGoGrandparent, a national company based in California which accesses Uber and Lyft using an 800 number without a cell phone.
While GoGoGrandparent is available nationwide, the Rides for Seniors program is the only one of its kind to offer a subsidy. Eligible riders receive $5 off each ride up to four rides per month. The subsidy is made possible through grant funding and sponsorship support, including a grant from the Grotta Fund for Senior Care and a sponsorship commitment from AARP for 2018.
Don’t know what to get a loved one for Mother’s Day? How about the gift of independence? The Rides for Seniors Gift-a-Ride program is a great gift to help offset transportation costs for riders. For more information, to register for Rides for Seniors or donate, visit the Tri-Town 55+ Coalition web site at tritown55plus.org.
