Photo courtesy of HANAC
Aug. 12, 2024 By Athena Dawson
Rep. Grace Meng (D-6) joined local seniors for a bus ride-along on Thursday, Aug. 8, as part of a transportation program run by a local nonprofit based in Astoria.
Meng and the seniors traveled to a convenience store using the East-West Connection Transportation Program, offered by HANAC, an organization that provides affordable housing and social services to seniors and vulnerable community members.
Photo courtesy of HANAC
The transportation program has a fleet of nine vans, with six scheduled routes across Astoria, Jackson Heights, Forest Hills, Rego Park and other parts of Queens. The van service transports seniors to and from senior centers and provides group trips to grocery stores, malls, banks, voting sites, walking clubs and social events. Van contributions are $1 each way.
Rep. Meng was pleased to see the positive impact the program has had on local seniors. “Ensuring that older adults can travel to take care of their needs is critical, and I thank HANAC for providing this valuable transportation service in our borough,” she said.
Photo courtesy of HANAC
Andrea Jerves, director of programs and development at HANAC, said the transportation program allows seniors to regain their freedom. “Whether taking a trip to the doctor’s office or simply to shop for basic day-to-day needs, the ability to travel freely around the borough is a small luxury that many seniors lose due to the impacts of age,” she said.
Founded in 1972 by George Douris, HANAC is a social services organization based in Astoria that focuses on supporting low-income New Yorkers and other members of the city’s most vulnerable populations. The East-West Connection Transportation Program has provided seniors with transportation services since 1984. Over 38,000 one-way trips are made annually, and the program serves over 1,000 registered clients in seven community districts in Queens.
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