BETHEL — The Age-Friendly Community Initiative of the Bethel region is partnering with Community Concepts to offer rides to seniors and disabled citizens for things like appointments and grocery shopping. 

Coordinators of the program aim for it to begin in October.

Community Concepts Director of Transportation Brad Edwards said the goal is to make the area more age-friendly, and surveys indicated that transportation was the most pressing need.

“Our primary contract for transportation is for MaineCare members,” Edwards explained. “…We have funds available for those with low income, seniors, and cancer patients.”

 Edwards said the organization has the funding, but needs more volunteer drivers.

 “Volunteer drivers give us a schedule of hours they are willing to drive,” Edwards said. “We assign trips by matching that availability with the requested rides. We also have ‘last-minute’ transportation requests that we would offer to drivers if it was within their available times.”

The drivers, who must pass a background check and keep their vehicles in good order, are trained for three days in areas including defensive driving, passenger sensitivity and child development. Volunteers will also become certified in First Aid and CPR, and are reimbursed for mileage at the rate of 41 cents per mile.

 “Volunteer driving is a great way to give back to the community and meet new people,” Edwards said. “For our clients, transportation can be a barrier to receiving the medical care they need or even getting to the grocery store. We help them meet these needs so they have one less thing to worry about.”

 Volunteer driving counts toward community service or volunteer time requirements.

 Those interested in becoming a volunteer driver can call Al Cressy at 207-824-0508 or Kirk Bellavance at 207-333-6442.

emeisner@sunmediagroup.net