Queens Gazette

Vallone Announces Restart Of Free Queens Senior Transportation Program


 

Councilman Paul A. Vallone announced that the Selfhelp Community Services free senior transportation program will begin again on October 10.

Councilman Paul A. Vallone on Monday, October 7 was joined by Selfhelp Vice President of External Relations and Communications Sandy Myers and local seniors to announce that the Selfhelp Community Services free senior transportation program will begin again on October 10. Vallone said he is proud to have nearly quadrupled the amount of funding for this successful program since 2017, when he allocated $40,000 to pilot the program.

This year, Vallone allocated $90,000 for seniors living in his Northeast Queens district, while Speaker Johnson secured another $50,000 at the request of the City Council’s Queens delegation to provide expanded services to seniors across the entire borough of Queens. In addition, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz allocated $10,000 to the program.

To make an appointment, seniors can call the Selfhelp Clearview Senior Center at 718-224-7888 between the hours of 9 a.m. and noon to schedule their next-day rides. Those who use the service will need to fill out a basic application with demographic information and an emergency contact and provide their destination. When ready for pickup, the senior will call again for their return trip.

Selfhelp Community Services will work in partnership with Four Twos and Central Car Service to schedule rides. The program will operate until the funds are depleted.

“I’m excited to announce the awaited return of our Free Senior Transportation Program, which will kick off again on Thursday, October 10,” said Councilman Vallone. “Since we began the program four years ago, thousands of rides to and from important medical appointments have been provided to our borough’s seniors ⁠at no cost to them. In just a few years, we’ve been able to nearly quadruple funding amounts for the program, enabling us to provide this vital service to seniors throughout Queens. I thank Speaker Johnson, Queens Borough President Katz and the Queens delegation for their support and Selfhelp Community Services for always being an outstanding community partner.”

“Selfhelp Community Services is thrilled to be partnering with Councilmembers Paul Vallone, Peter Koo, Robert Holden, Francisco Moya, Speaker Corey Johnson, and the entire Queens delegation to provide continued and increased access to transportation services for older adults throughout Queens for the fourth year,” said Sandy Myers, Vice President, External Affairs and Communications, Selfhelp Community Services.

“In transportation deserts like Northeast Queens, where our Clearview Senior Center is located, older adults are often isolated in their homes due to the lack of affordable, accessible, and reliable transportation services. Investments by government, including through this program, enable older New Yorkers to continue to age with independence and dignity in the city they call home. We are proud to partner with the New York City Council, and look forward to the continuation and growth of this critical service.”

“This is wonderful news,” said Frank Pavone, 93. “I recently fell, but now I’m back and on my feet again thanks to my doctors. The most important thing is for seniors to have reliable transportation to get to our doctor’s appointments. This program makes a big difference for us and our families.”

 

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