Transportation grants available to aid elderly

5 years ago

PORTLAND and MARS HILL, Maine — Grants of up to $10,000 are available through the Maine Community Foundation for community-based efforts to improve or increase access to transportation that may also reduce social isolation for older people.

The Maine Charity Foundation Fund grants will support new volunteer driver programs, expansion of transportation programs, and improvements to existing transportation programs.

Nearly a third of older people in Maine live in communities without access to public transportation. For older people, especially those in rural areas, lack of transportation can result in missed medical appointments, malnutrition and social isolation — all significant threats to good health and quality of life.

The application deadline is Sept. 15. For more details, visit www.mainecf.org or contact Director of Grantmaking Laura Lee at (207) 761-2440 or llee@mainecf.org.

The Maine Community Foundation is headquartered in Ellsworth, with additional personnel in Mars Hill, Dover-Foxcroft and Portland.