Last week at the Lincklaen House, volunteer drivers for CRIS-CAT (Community Resources for Independent Seniors-Cazenovia Area Transportation) were honored for service to seniors in our area.
In 2010, following a Feasibility Study it was determined that transportation was our most needed service. Hume Laidman and Steve Burrell recruited drivers and under the CRIS program began CRIS-CAT. Now, six years later, 62 drivers and five schedulers using a hot line, help seniors get to needed appointments. In this current year, more than 200 rides have been given to 196 passengers and drivers have logged 6,300 miles.
Bill Zupan, Town of Cazenovia supervisor spoke and thanked the volunteers for this needed service. He asked, “please just keep doing what you doing at this time.”
Sue Duffy, a scheduler, shared her recent experience. She received a request from a senior asking to be driven to three different stores. This seemed like too much to ask a driver so she provided the ride herself. When she took the passenger home, he explained that at each stop he had purchased a part to fix another senior’s broken item.
By driving one, CRIS was really helping three with a needed repair. This describes the CRIS-CAT mission shared by all the drivers.
There is always a need for additional drivers. If you could help or want more information call 655-0612.
