(Chelsea Update would like to thank Trinh Pifer for the information in this story.)
The Chelsea Senior Center was recently awarded a $1000 grant to provide free ride cards for Western-Washtenaw Area Value Express (WAVE) bus system.
These WAVE bus passes will be available for any senior within the Chelsea School District needing help with transportation. The grant was funded by the Washtenaw County Consortium on Aging (WCCOA), a non-profit collaborative group representing public agencies, private businesses and individuals interested in addressing the needs of the county’s aging citizens.
Theresa Likert, owner of Oxygen Plus and grants chairperson, said in a press release, “The mission of WCCOA is to provide for collaboration, advocacy and communication between agencies and persons concerned with the provision of services to all aging adults. This is our third year of awarding grants to projects that support active aging.”
The Chelsea Senior Center recently launched a program that helps seniors age in place, connected to their community. Since launching the program in October 2013, the Chelsea Community Senior Services (C2S2) program has fulfilled nearly 75 requests for rides.
The rides were provided through referrals to the WAVE bus or from local volunteers. “The top destinations include medical offices, grocery stores, banks, and to the Senior Center. We continue to see more and more requests, so we know there is a great need in our community,” Mackenzie Pfeiffer, C2S2 coordinator, said in the release.
Studies have shown that older adults who cannot drive are subject to isolation, depression, and other health problems.
“Non-driving seniors may feel isolated in their own hometown. The benefits gained by supporting senior transportation programs include promoting continued independence in the home environment, connectedness to existing social circles and community services, and increased physical and mental health. WAVE is honored to be part of this collaboration,” Michaelene Pawlak, executive director of WAVE said in a press release.
For more information about these free WAVE bus passes, please call the Chelsea Senior Center at 475-9242 or email [email protected].
The Chelsea Senior Center is a 501(c) 3 non-profit located in the Washington Street Education Center at 512 E. Washington Street, Chelsea, MI. Office hours are Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The center’s mission is to promote, encourage, and organize activities that address the physical, social, and emotional concerns of Chelsea area senior citizens and their families.
This is great news. 🙂