Rideshare extended

North Bay Social Planning Council
News Release

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The North Bay Social Planning Council’s Kids and Community Project is pleased to announce the extension of the Rideshare Pilot Program into March 2008. Originally, the Rideshare Pilot Program was slated to operate from October – December 2007, but due to an overwhelming demand, the Pilot Program will continue to operate for an additional three months. Currently, there are 29 active families enrolled in the Program and 38 families on the Rideshare waiting list.

Rideshare is a community-based transportation program designed and implemented by parents, as a way of providing convenient and affordable transportation for families. It is intended for those with young children who need to go grocery shopping, visit food banks, or attend medical or agency-based appointments. Volunteer drivers, who are reimbursed for their kilometres provide rides to the families. Tiffany Nunner, Rideshare Co-ordinator comments:

“The Rideshare families are very grateful for our Program. They tell us how much easier their lives have become due to the service we provide for them. For instance, getting their groceries used to be a dreaded experience and now they look forward to it because it no longer takes three hours out of their day.”

The Rideshare Pilot Program is one of the developments emerging out of the Kids and Community Project, which is funded by Human Resources and Social Development Canada. The Program has been sustained through the fundraising efforts of the Parent Advisory Committee; however the North Bay Social Planning Council is seeking out additional funding opportunities in order to sustain this program in the long-term for our community. If funding is secured to support this Program, it will be expanded in April 2008 to include more families and destination points.

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