Launched just over six months ago, Newtown Rides provides rides to local senior citizens who want to get to in-town locations. Destinations include everything from banks, hair salons and barbers, nail salons, and C.H. Booth Library to Newtown Senior Center, a post office, a cemetery, restaurants, markets, Edmond Town Hall, Newtown Community Center, and Newtown Municipal Center.

The program is part of the Chore Services program offered by Friends of Newtown Seniors (FONS).

Co-Chairs Beverly Bennett-Schaedler and Mary Pat Frobey recently hosted a program update at My Place Restaurant, in the same room from which the program was formally launched in April, and offered good news to the volunteer drivers who attended the lunch event on November 20.

For seven months, rides have been offered to residents age 55 and up on Tuesdays and Thursdays, in two-hour slots running 10 am-noon and 12-2 pm. Newtown Rides provided 66 in-town trips, Bennett-Schaedler announced.

“We’d like to increase the weekly average, but that’s a very good start,” she said.

As of last month, the program has already expanded. Rides are now also being offered on Wednesdays. Additionally, rides are being offered earlier in the morning and later into the afternoon.

Residents can now request rides between 9:30 am-12:30 pm and/or 11:30 am-2:30 pm, Bennett-Schaedler also announced.

Drivers were seated around a long table in the party room of My Place that morning. They were asked to share their stories and ask questions. Bennett-Schaedler opened that discussion by reading a note from a woman who had used the service by arranging a ride for herself and a neighbor to be driven to a nail salon.

“They went to get their nails done, and that’s great,” Bennett-Schaedler said. “They got out of the house.”

One driver said she’d driven a woman who’d had a knee replacement to a physical therapy appointment.

“She was so grateful,” the driver said.

Another driver said they’d had a male arrange for a ride, and he “accomplished four tasks within the two-hour timeframe.” Frobey said she’d received a call for someone who wanted a ride to Fairfield Hills, “just to walk with her.”

Drivers were reminded that they are welcome to go into buildings or open spaces with their passengers, but they’re not meant to do things like grocery shopping and other errands.

“This is not FONS Chore Services,” Bennett-Schaedler said. “That’s an entirely different program, and we want to keep these services separate. If people need or want help with grocery shopping, we have volunteers for that.”

The drivers asked about seniors who would like rides for extended visits to places like Newtown Senior Center.

“If someone wants to be off for lunch and a program at the senior center and they’ll be there for an extended time, we can schedule one person to drop them off and either have the same driver or a different driver return to pick them up later,” Frobey said. “We’d love to have more people take advantage of this offer.”

In response to another question, concerning Newtown Rides during inclement weather, Frobey said the service will follow the Newtown Public Schools schedule.

“If school is cancelled, Newtown Rides will be cancelled,” she said, adding “Rides are important, but everyone’s safety is even more important.

As pizza and salad began arriving, the two women encouraged the drivers to begin enjoying their lunch and continue the discussion.

There is no fee for the rides. Reservations are requested at least three days in advance, however.

Newtown Rides operates within Newtown only.

To request a ride or for additional information, contact FONS Chore Services at 203-430-0633.

Requests should include name and contact information so that a volunteer can return the call and confirm the request.

=====

Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.