Leave the driving --- and the fun to us
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — It’s like the family sitting around the dinner table. Checking in with each other, talking about their day, and loads of laughter.
But it’s more like a portable dinner table — it’s the town’s new senior/vet bus program. The town’s Senior Transport Program offers free bus rides for residents over 60. There’s an application on the town’s website to collect all the pertinent facts and then it’s just a matter of making a reservation.
James Callaghan, director of the Recreation Department, which also has the Council on Aging under its wing, said the pilot program, funded by a state Senior Resources grant, is getting there. Thirteen riders kicked off the program in March, he said, and the number doubled in April. It’s for seniors age 60 and older that don’t have access to transportation to get to appointments, errands, events in town.
Driver Kathy Card, asked what she likes about driving seniors, said, “Well I’m a senior as well, but I love them. I have so much fun with them.” She’s been a bus driver before and was hired as the first driver. A second driver is in the pipeline. The grant pays the drivers’ salaries.
She adores listening to her senior passengers. “There’s something about them. I feel like a kid with them.”
Card is picking up senior Annie Russo in East Putnam. Russo doesn’t drive anymore and she’s heading to a doctor’s appointment and then to pick up some shoes and then to Walmart. Card jumps out of the van, helps Russo into the passenger’s seat and puts Russo’s walker in the back of the van.
“Seatbelts.” And then it’s like two old friends heading down the road. Laughing and joking around. Russo was explaining some of the history of some of the places on the way. Talking about pets and gardening. Both of them have sparkling personalities.
Russo said: “I love everything (about the program). I can’t drive so I can just call and get a ride anytime that Monday, Wednesday or Friday and it’s just great.”
Card has another rider, Jess, who is getting rides to the VA facility in Providence. She said Jess has commented that he feels so comfortable that “his wife would be surprised at how much talking he does” when he’s traveling on the senior bus.
Looking to build more ridership, Card has taken flyers and applications round to all the doctors’ offices and the hospital.
The department is looking to build more ridership. The rides are free.
For information, applications, questions, call: 860-963-6811.
Card said: “It’s just a senior driving around seniors and having a good time.”
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captions:
Kathy Card set to go. Expanded photo array Wed. night on our FB page. Linda Lemmon photos.
Annie Russo, left. On the road.