(Chelsea Update would like to thank Jennifer Kundak for the information in this story.)
The Chelsea Senior Center provides Western Area Value Express (WAVE) bus passes for seniors who no longer drive and who may find it difficult to pay for transportation. The rides help the seniors stay connected to their community, make it to appointments, and maintain independence.
WAVE provides transportation to older adults, persons with disabilities, and other transit-dependent individuals in western Washtenaw County.
Jennifer Kundak, a member of the Senior Center and also a Thrivent Financial member, is grateful to Eric and Amy VanHevel for their generous support in making this community service project possible. She learned that the supply of remaining passes available to those who requested assistance was dangerously low this autumn and wrote a proposal to fund 13 WAVE bus passes to extend the supply in 2017.
Each $20 pass will enable the recipient to use about four round trips in the WAVE door to door program.
On Nov. 7, the additional bus passes were prepared in envelopes for distribution to recipients in person at the center, or by mail.
In helping to raise awareness by serving this vital and growing community need, the long-term goal is to encourage other local grant funding organizations and individuals to recognize they can play a role also. Thrivent seed money is designed to encourage and motivate more participation by others in the future.
For further information on how your group might help cover costs of more bus passes, contact the Chelsea Senior Center at 734-475-9242, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
