Senior Center Gets AdVANtage
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A new car is always a treat, but when the new vehicle is one that can allow up to nine seniors and people with disabilities to ride in air conditioned comfort, it’s really a cause for celebration.
Seniors and Town officials gathered Thursday, July 23 in the parking lot of the Sudbury Senior Center for an official ribbon cutting for the new wheelchair lift equipped van that arrived last week. The van was purchased with a grant of $37,888 from the Executive Office of Transportation, with $8,237 (a 20% match of funds) from the Friends of Sudbury Seniors.
Friends President Jaqueline Bausk cut the ribbon, with the assistance of Selectmen Larry O’Brian and William Keller. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of everyone who donates to the Friends annual appeal,” Bausk said. “When they see this van driving around, they will see tangible evidence of the good their donations do for seniors and people with disabilities.”
Council on Aging Chairman Patrick Mullen echoed Bausk’s statement, thanking both the donors and the Friends group itself for all their work in supporting the Senior Center.
“I’d like to thank (former COA Director) Ruth Griesel and her team for writing the grant that made this possible,” said Council on Aging Director Kristin Kiesel. The grant was written in 2004, and the awarding of the van was announced in March 2005, but the actual vehicle was not ready for delivery until mid July of this year.
“The van says ‘C.O.A. Connection’ on the side,” said Kiesel, “Because the Board wanted to make the point that it serves people with disabilities as well as seniors, connecting those who need transportation to vital services like shopping for groceries and getting to the doctor.”
The new van will offer rides to destinations in Sudbury and nearby 35 hours a week. Riders pay $1 for one-way trip in town, and $2 for a one way trip out of town. The money is used for van repairs and substitute drivers.
Following the ribbon cutting, van driver Linda Curran took town officials, including David Mortimer, Chair of the Commission on Disability, for an inaugural spin around the parking lot.