PORTLAND – Neighbors Driving Neighbors in northern Kennebec County was one of three organizations that shared $77,830 in grants from the Maine Community Foundation’s Maine Charity Foundation Fund. The grants went to nonprofit organizations that support transportation programs for older Maine people.
Grant recipients in 2018 included:
* Neighbors Driving Neighbors, to enhance scheduling efficiency and expand community outreach to increase ridership, support aging in place, and aid families with limited transportation in northwest Kennebec County.
* Aroostook Regional Transportation System, to expand the hours of their demand-response transportation services to meet the increasing demand within the Southern Aroostook area.
* Friends in Action, to expand the volunteer capacity of their free transportation program to better serve the entire region and to expand coverage into Washington County.
Neighbors Driving Neighbors coordinates volunteer drivers for those who do not drive, so they can more easily stay in their homes, with a vision that central Maine communities will be a place where people of all ages are able to enjoy meaningful lives while living in their homes. Its service area is Vienna, Fayette, Mount Vernon, Belgrade and Rome.
The free transportation is for adults for errands, exercise sessions, classes, medical appointments, shopping, socialization or volunteering.
The volunteers are neighbors who donate their time, vehicle, and gas with no compensation. All the drivers have had reference, driver and background checks to ensure the highest level of safety. NDN is looking for more people who like to drive, have a good driving record and would enjoy being part of this important effort. Drivers say “It is very rewarding to be able to help others directly while meeting and visiting with neighbors.”
Those interested may contact the organization by phone 207-860-0677 or emailneighborsdrivingneighbors@ gmail.com.
Established in 1921, the Maine Charity Foundation Fund was the state’s first community foundation, created to hold individual charitable funds and to distribute income from those funds. In 1993, the fund was transferred to the Maine Community Foundation, which continues the organization’s tradition of grantmaking. The next deadline for applications is Sept. 15. For more details, visit www.mainecf.org or contact Senior Program Officer Laura Lee at 207-761-2440 or llee@mainecf.org.
PHOTO: Neighbors Driving Neighbors connects volunteer drivers with senior residents of Belgrade, Vienna, Fayette, Mount Vernon and Rome. (Neighborsdrivingneighbors.org photo)
