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Transportation services going unused says Agassiz Harrison Community Services

Seniors and other residents should use town’s resources
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Agassiz Harrison Community Services Executive Director Bobbi Jacob says transportation resources are being underused by those who need trips outside Agassiz. The Community Services van pictured is available for grocery shopping trips outside Agassiz. (Nina Grossman/Observer)

Residents from Agassiz and Harrison needing rides into neighbouring cities for medical appointments should call Community Services, says Executive Director Bobbi Jacob.

“There has been a program out here for a long time called the Community Drivers and they take people into medical appointments–usually to see specialists in Chilliwack and Vancouver,” she says.

The driving service costs about 60 cents/kilometre, a charge to reimburse volunteers for mileage.

Agassiz resident Anthea Lewis says she has been lucky to get rides from neighbours and friends when she has to go past Chilliwack, mentioning that two-level public transportation busses to Chilliwack and beyond are not always senior or stroller-friendly.

Jacob says Agassiz Harrison Community Services has a van at the District of Kent office that is available for groups of seniors arranging grocery shopping trips into Chilliwack. She says Community Services will supply the van and a volunteer driver.

“We have been trying, for years, to get seniors to use it to go into Chilliwack to do their grocery shopping,” she says. “We would love to have seniors go in to shop, and we’ll have a volunteer go with them to help with their groceries [and] we’ll pick them up door to door.”

“Even in the bad, bad weather last winter no body asked about the van and we kept advertising,” she adds.

Residents looking to use the Community Driveras program must request their ride at least three business days in advance of the trip and have clear directions for the driver.

To call about a ride, contact Agassiz Harrison Community Services at (604) 796-2585.

Jacob says volunteer drivers are always needed. Anyone interested in volunteering as a driver must have their own vehicle and a criminal record check and drivers abstract on file.