Federal pandemic aid will buy replacement van for seniors

March 16, 2022 | Peter Currier
pcurrier@thereminder.com

From left, Mayor William Sapelli, state Sen. John Velis and Senior Center Director Michael Squindo celebrate state funding for Agawam’s new senior van on March 7.
Reminder Publishing photo by Peter Currier

AGAWAM — State Sen. John Velis announced last week that the Agawam Senior Center will receive $75,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to purchase a new vehicle for senior transportation.

The funding will add a new van to the Council on Aging’s transportation fleet, which had once been growing but has recently run into vehicle setbacks. Velis said that he pushed for this funding after seniors approached him during his office hours saying they had a need for more transportation.

“This, in my opinion, is the government at its best,” said Velis.

Agawam Mayor William Sapelli emphasized the need for senior transportation, especially for a population that does not drive themselves as often as they once did.

“Seniors don’t just need rides to their doctors and dentist appointments. They need rides to get out, they need rides to shop, they need rides to the hairdresser and barbershop,” said Sapelli. “They need this interaction with the community that they don’t have because they don’t drive anymore. Therefore, the van service is vital to these people.”

Senior Center Director Michael Squindo said that transportation has consistently been among the top needs for seniors in Massachusetts for at least the last decade. He said other needs include nutritional security, health insurance costs and housing.

“Those all cost a significant amount of money. When you are on a fixed income, you have to find ways to make it affordable,” said Squindo.

Squindo said that when he first worked at the Senior Center, the transportation fleet included only a single one-passenger vehicle with a driver who also handled all the scheduling. Responding to demand, he grew the program to the point where it had three buses in operation. Agawam is now down to a single bus, however, as one has been sidelined with mechanical issues, and another had its catalytic converter stolen.

Squindo said the Senior Center is working with the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority to receive a donation vehicle as well as a grant for an additional vehicle for their fleet. As of now, Squindo said the bus service runs weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. With the transportation fleet soon expanding and hopefully additional staffing, Squindo said the hope is to expand those hours to include evening and weekend trips.

Agawam senior citizens or those living with a disability can request a van ride during operating hours by calling 726-2839 at least 48 hours in advance. In-town trips cost $1 in each direction; out-of-town trips are $2 in each direction. Half-cost fares are available for group trips on certain days to grocery shops and Applause Series events.

Before the pandemic, the Senior Center was scheduling 4,000 to 5,000 van trips each year. With the increase in vehicles, he said they hope to raise that figure to 8,000 to 10,000 trips a year.

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