- Thanks for the ride.
What kind of life does a person have when she is housebound due to financial or health reasons or when she lacks the family or social networks to make her feel like she is part of the community? Missed or neglected medical appointments, the loss of friendships, the sense of belonging, and the ability to contribute, communicate and interact are all lost when you are without safe, affordable and reliable transportation.
For a number of years the United Way of Lunenburg County has provided financial support to two local transportation services, Chester Community Wheels and Bridgewater Senior Wheels. In fact in 2014 these organizations shared $10,000 in funding from the United Way.
Both these services are very busy indeed with year over year ridership increases. For example in 2012 Chester Community Wheels provided 2,107 one-way trips and Bridgewater Senior Wheels carried 8,824 riders.
Chester Community Wheels operates exclusively in the Municipality of Chester and provides transportation services to people of all ages for any number of reasons including trips to the hospitals in HRM and Kentville. Bridgewater Senior Wheels operates in the Town of Bridgewater and extends the service 7 km in to the county from the town border. In the Mahone Bay area the VON operates a service called On the Move. This service, like the others provides rides to people who need them.
Says Marge,” Without this program I would be housebound. They take me everywhere-the doctor’s office, the grocery store, and the bank. And the drivers, they’re so wonderful.”
Transportation issues are just one barrier that many of our local residents have to deal with in their twilight years. If you know of someone who would benefit from a service like this please contact;
– Chester Community Wheels 902-275-5585
– Bridgewater Senior Wheels 902-543-2255
– VON on the Move 902-624-1897
To find out more about how the United Way of Lunenburg County is putting your donations to work helping Lunenburg County youth, families, seniors and communities visit our website at www.lunenburgcounty.unitedway.ca
