This week’s number to remember is 5731. That is the number of one-way rides Kewaunee County provided as part of its County Transportation program from January through November of last year.

The Transportation program attempts to accommodate all requests from eligible participants for transportation to and from medical- and/or nutrition-related activities. The transportation program consists of several programs including the Algoma Bus route, which provides transportation within the city limits of Algoma and the Driver Escort Program, which provides transportation within the county and also the surrounding counties of Door, Manitowoc and Brown. Both programs offer transportation to seniors 55 years and older and persons with disabilities. Both programs are able to meet the needs of ambulatory and nonambulatory residents. The Algoma route has a paid driver, while rides provided through the Driver Escort program are provided by volunteers who use their own personal vehicles or they can use wheelchair assessable vans owned by the county to provide transportation. Door-to-door service is provided. A small co-pay from riders is requested. All money collected is used to support the Transportation program. Hours of service vary by program.

Transportation requests can be made by calling the Kewaunee County Human Services Department at 920-388-0626. Please keep in mind that our drivers are not trained personal assistants. If you need assistance, participants are asked to have an attendant accompany them. In addition, transportation requests can be denied if there are no available drivers.

If you would like to make a difference in your community, please consider becoming a volunteer driver. Volunteer drivers allow the county to provide a much higher level of service than our funding permits. Volunteers are interviewed and screened by the county. Each volunteer must possess a valid driver’s license and complete an orientation of the Transportation program. Volunteers are reimbursed for mileage when they use their personal vehicle. I cannot say thank you enough to those volunteers who give their time to keep our elderly and disabled active within our community. Questions regarding becoming a volunteer driver can be answered also by calling the Transportation line at 920-388-0626.

Scott Feldt is the administrator of Kewaunee County.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press Gazette: 5,731: Rides for the elderly and disabled