Seniors retain mobility, transition away from car ownership
By Jennifer L. Boen
of The News-Sentinel
Fort Wayne has a new option for older adults who no longer are able to or desire to drive themselves to and from the grocery store or the afternoon bridge club meeting. Community Transportation Network (CTN) is starting Senior Keys. The program allows the older adult who still has a car but no longer drives it to donate the vehicle to CTN. In addition to the tax write-off for the senior, the donor receives a credit with Senior Keys to buy rides up to the value of the donated vehicle.
“We'll be looking to build a small fleet of vehicles to begin transporting seniors,” said Brad Davis, Senior Keys manager. “We'll be targeting folks transitioning away from driving, more likely folks in their 80s or above, those who might have not as good of control of a vehicle as they should.”
Volunteer drivers will transport the seniors. CTN will keep well-running vehicles for the fleet. Vehicles not in good enough condition for the fleet will be sold, with proceeds used for Senior Keys for operating expenses. Communities across the nation are looking at novel ways to prepare for the surge in services needed by the 65 and older population, which will double by 2030, reaching 71 million people. By then, 9.5 million people will be 85 years and older.
It is never easy for adult children to talk to their elderly parents about giving up the car keys. But anyone who recalls the July 2003 tragedy in Santa Monica Calif., in which 86-year-old George Weller killed 10 people when he accidentally drove through a crowd at a Santa Monica, Calif., farmers' market, knows the conversation is a necessary one. Soon after the accident, Weller reportedly told police he may have mistakenly hit the gas pedal instead of the brake. In addition to the 10 deaths, 15 people were critically injured.
“That conversation can be hard. The last thing people want to do is give up driving,” Davis said. Some people begin limiting themselves as to where and when they drive. Eventually the car sits unused in the garage. It is those individuals and families that CTN is seeking to donate vehicles to Senior Keys and to begin using the service.
“We hope to begin marketing this to families of current clients or other groups such as the Council on Aging and Aging and In-Home Services (of Northeast Indiana),” as well as to attorneys and doctors, Davis said. He noted that some agencies offer transportation for clients but it is limited to medical or other specific uses. The Council on Aging's transportation service, for example, provides seniors transportation to and from medical appointments, nutrition sites, grocery stores and social service agencies.
CTN, DeLuxe Taxi and Citilink in February announced a partnership to offer wheelchair taxi service 24/7 in Fort Wayne. Senior Keys will use only passenger cars so individuals needing wheelchair-accessible transportation should use the new taxi service.
The service will begin once CTN has a small fleet plus a group of volunteer drivers, Davis said. The target date is sometime in April.
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090319/NEWS/903190333
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Cars For A Cause
Cars For A Cause
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Press Release) - Easter Seals Arc is pleased to announce that it is participating in a new car donation program. The Arc of the United States created a nationwide vehicle donation program to benefit state and local chapters. This program is designed to provide Arc chapters such as Easter Seals Arc of Northeast Indiana, with an opportunity to benefit from donations of cars, trucks, boats, and other vehicles, by recycling unwanted vehicles and parts to help fund programs that will create solutions and change lives of people with developmental disabilities. Here’s how the program works: Donate your used car, van, truck, boat with a trailer, or recreational vehicle seven days a week, 24 hours a day to Easter Seals Arc and the organization will receive a small percentage of the cars worth. It’s that simple! This program was organized by Melwood, an organization serving people with developmental disabilities out of Maryland. Melwood operates one of the largest and most successful vehicle donation programs in the U.S. and is extending its call center and processing system to other nonprofits. The Arc of the United States joined the program in November of 2008 and already more than $15,000 has been donated to over 65 Arc chapters. “The Arc of the United States’ participation in the car donation program through Melwood has proven to be a tremendous benefit to our chapters. This nationwide program has added value to our members because it’s available at such a low cost and the program staff take care of every detail in the donation,” said Peter V. Berns, Executive Director of The Arc of the United States.
The Arc of United States Car Donation project was an easy elective to choose because we do not have to do any of the legwork, but just promote it. Net gift revenues will be devoted toward operating expenses because it is getting harder and harder to get unrestricted donations to aide in the operating costs of the organization. This program also provides a way for new people who otherwise would not donate to our organization to get involved. Any community member can call the toll free telephone number: 1-877-ARC-CAR0 to make their automobile donation, or can donate online at www.eastersealsarcnein.org. For questions or more information about this program please contact Bill Andreas, Executive Director of the Arc Foundation, at 260.456.4534 ext 265.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29742187/
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Press Release) - Easter Seals Arc is pleased to announce that it is participating in a new car donation program. The Arc of the United States created a nationwide vehicle donation program to benefit state and local chapters. This program is designed to provide Arc chapters such as Easter Seals Arc of Northeast Indiana, with an opportunity to benefit from donations of cars, trucks, boats, and other vehicles, by recycling unwanted vehicles and parts to help fund programs that will create solutions and change lives of people with developmental disabilities. Here’s how the program works: Donate your used car, van, truck, boat with a trailer, or recreational vehicle seven days a week, 24 hours a day to Easter Seals Arc and the organization will receive a small percentage of the cars worth. It’s that simple! This program was organized by Melwood, an organization serving people with developmental disabilities out of Maryland. Melwood operates one of the largest and most successful vehicle donation programs in the U.S. and is extending its call center and processing system to other nonprofits. The Arc of the United States joined the program in November of 2008 and already more than $15,000 has been donated to over 65 Arc chapters. “The Arc of the United States’ participation in the car donation program through Melwood has proven to be a tremendous benefit to our chapters. This nationwide program has added value to our members because it’s available at such a low cost and the program staff take care of every detail in the donation,” said Peter V. Berns, Executive Director of The Arc of the United States.
The Arc of United States Car Donation project was an easy elective to choose because we do not have to do any of the legwork, but just promote it. Net gift revenues will be devoted toward operating expenses because it is getting harder and harder to get unrestricted donations to aide in the operating costs of the organization. This program also provides a way for new people who otherwise would not donate to our organization to get involved. Any community member can call the toll free telephone number: 1-877-ARC-CAR0 to make their automobile donation, or can donate online at www.eastersealsarcnein.org. For questions or more information about this program please contact Bill Andreas, Executive Director of the Arc Foundation, at 260.456.4534 ext 265.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29742187/
Man found fatally shot in Ozark car dealership
OZARK -- The owner of a car dealership was found fatally shot inside his business Monday morning.
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Rufus Church , 56, of Ozark was found dead at Ozark Dodge about 6:25 a.m. Monday by an employee who was reporting for work, Ozark Police Chief Lyle Hodges said.
As of Monday afternoon, police were treating Church's death as a homicide.
Officials have not said whether a weapon was found at the scene . Hodges declined to comment when asked whether there were signs of forced entry into the dealership.
Officials would not discuss whether there are any suspects.
Church died of a gunshot wound, but Hodges would not say how many times or where he had been shot.
Ozark Dodge, located on the north side of Route CC just west of U.S. 65, was surrounded by yellow crime scene tape as investigators worked the scene. Several police cars lined the parking lot.
The dealership was shut down Monday and employees were sent home, Hodges said.
Law enforcement officials remained at the scene throughout the day. The investigation is being conducted jointly by the Ozark Police Department, Christian County Sheriff's Department and Missouri Highway Patrol.
Ozark residents spoke of layoffs at the dealership not long ago.
A bright orange bulletin running across the dealership's Web site Monday afternoon read: "Attention: This is a public notice of inventory liquidation. Ozark Dodge must liquidate all new and used vehicles now. Our prices have been slashed. No reasonable offer will be refused."
It went on to say: "New-used-demo -- it doesn't matter -- it all has to go now. Huge savings on every vehicle in stock."
Church's father, Phil Church, started Ozark Chrysler Plymouth, which later become known as Ozark Dodge, the Missouri Secretary of State's Web site shows.
Phil Church died in October 2006 at 87, a News-Leader obituary said.
Ozark Dodge has been in business for more than 31 years, its Web site says.
In 2005, Rufus Church donated a parcel of land in hopes that the Christian County Animal Shelter Board could build a shelter there. He wanted to donate the land, located at the end of 10th Street just north of the Finley River, in memory of his late sister who was a cat lover, past News-Leader articles show.
The board ran into problems, however, because the land was not zoned properly for an animal shelter. The land was then sold to raise money to locate a shelter elsewhere.
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Click Me! Quantcast
Rufus Church , 56, of Ozark was found dead at Ozark Dodge about 6:25 a.m. Monday by an employee who was reporting for work, Ozark Police Chief Lyle Hodges said.
As of Monday afternoon, police were treating Church's death as a homicide.
Officials have not said whether a weapon was found at the scene . Hodges declined to comment when asked whether there were signs of forced entry into the dealership.
Officials would not discuss whether there are any suspects.
Church died of a gunshot wound, but Hodges would not say how many times or where he had been shot.
Ozark Dodge, located on the north side of Route CC just west of U.S. 65, was surrounded by yellow crime scene tape as investigators worked the scene. Several police cars lined the parking lot.
The dealership was shut down Monday and employees were sent home, Hodges said.
Law enforcement officials remained at the scene throughout the day. The investigation is being conducted jointly by the Ozark Police Department, Christian County Sheriff's Department and Missouri Highway Patrol.
Ozark residents spoke of layoffs at the dealership not long ago.
A bright orange bulletin running across the dealership's Web site Monday afternoon read: "Attention: This is a public notice of inventory liquidation. Ozark Dodge must liquidate all new and used vehicles now. Our prices have been slashed. No reasonable offer will be refused."
It went on to say: "New-used-demo -- it doesn't matter -- it all has to go now. Huge savings on every vehicle in stock."
Church's father, Phil Church, started Ozark Chrysler Plymouth, which later become known as Ozark Dodge, the Missouri Secretary of State's Web site shows.
Phil Church died in October 2006 at 87, a News-Leader obituary said.
Ozark Dodge has been in business for more than 31 years, its Web site says.
In 2005, Rufus Church donated a parcel of land in hopes that the Christian County Animal Shelter Board could build a shelter there. He wanted to donate the land, located at the end of 10th Street just north of the Finley River, in memory of his late sister who was a cat lover, past News-Leader articles show.
The board ran into problems, however, because the land was not zoned properly for an animal shelter. The land was then sold to raise money to locate a shelter elsewhere.
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