Hillsdale’s Dial-A-Ride program received a $100 Social Isolation Grant from the Area Agency on Aging to provide transportation services to senior citizens in Hillsdale County.
Dial-A-Ride offers transportation in and around the city of Hillsdale for a small fee. Seniors often use Dial-A-Ride for rides to Wal-Mart, the doctor’s office, and other places where they otherwise could not travel alone.
County Commissioner Ruth Brown, who represents Hillsdale County on the AAA board in Region 2, learned that the agency had extra money to give away and suggested that it go to Dial-A-Ride.
“Occasionally, we have older people in need of a ride here and there that don’t have enough money,” Dial-A-Ride dispatcher Judy Buzo said. She said the money will go to an account which Dial-A-Ride can draw from to help seniors who need rides but cannot pay.
Buzo added that this amount of money will not help in a significant way, which Brown said she understands.
“I’m trying to get them some more,” Brown said. “They need more than that.”
The grant came just as Dial-A-Ride celebrated its 40th anniversary Tuesday.
