The annual Two Miles for Mary radiothon takes place Sept. 27 and raises money for a senior's transportation program in Prince Albert that is seeing an increase in use. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Teena Monteleone

Two Miles for Mary

Rising use drives support needs for senior transportation program

Sep 5, 2019 | 8:15 AM

For the past 32 years, the Prince Albert and District Community Service Centre has provided affordable transportation to local seniors. During that time, it has seen a steady increase in use of the service. The organization’s CEO Bill Powalinsky said the number of people they help is up five per cent over last year.

“Last year we did 7,421 trips in total including 3,831 assisted trips. In addition to those, we had 64 medical charters to Saskatoon,” he said.

The senior’s transportation program provides door to door service, with a standard fare starting at $5. Drivers assist passengers in and out of vehicles and with parcels and walking aids. Seniors can also pre-arrange with dispatch to have their own attendant, who rides free, to escort them.

“Imagine you are housebound, and you need to go out and do groceries or take care of personal aid like hair appointments or doctor or dentist appointments or you just want to go out and visit family or friends,” Powalinsky said. “That’s just a partial list of reasons why people rely on this service.”

The program is partially funded by the City of Prince Albert and fare revenues, but relies heavily on fundraising to operate. Upwards of 25 per cent of all costs come from an annual fundraiser broadcast on Saskatchewan Country CKBI radio, part of the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group in Prince Albert.

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“Providing 32 years of assisted service to our senior population in the city is unbelievable. These are the people that build this fine city and they are the backbone of the community and the province. Prince Albert can be very proud of their commitment and support to our elders,” Powalinsky said.

Donations to the seniors’ transportation program can be made during the annual radiothon on Sept. 27. It will be broadcast from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saskatchewan Country CKBI radio and hosted by morning host personalities Chris Knight and Teena Monteleone. Donations can also be contributed through SARCAN’s Drop and Go Program.

“People can bring in their bags of bottles or cans, tag it and identify that they want the donations to go to the Two Miles for Mary fundraiser,” Powalinsky said.

He also challenged all students who headed back to school this week to start fundraising efforts within their classrooms.

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teena.monteleone@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TeenaMonteleone