Northern Essex Elder Transport, which provides rides for Greater Haverhill seniors going to medical visits, this week was awarded a $12,500 state grant to reimburse drivers.
The money comes from a $9.5 million program for cities, towns and nonprofit organizations to use under the Community Transit Grant Program, administered by the state Department of Transportation. The annual competitive grant program awards money to be used for transit operating costs, mobility management or new capital investments.
“Community Transit Grants provide critical funding to local organizations to purchase equipment to help people get where they need to go efficiently and safely,” said Gov. Charlie Baker.
Northern Essex Elder Transport is a non-profit volunteer driver program providing curb-to-curb, non-lift transportation for seniors to local and out-of-town medical appointments when other means are either unavailable or unaffordable. Besides the cities of Haverhill and Methuen, communities served include Amesbury, Boxford, Georgetown, Groveland, Lawrence, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, Rowley, Salisbury and West Newbury.
Those who need rides should contact a local Council on Aging.