LOLCS Youth Transportation service faces closure

Jeff Green | Dec 01, 2011

For almost two years now, Land O’ Lakes Community Services (LOLCS) has operated a Child and Youth Transportation Program. A Trillium Foundation grant, as well as the combined effort of various agencies in Lennox and Addington, made the program possible.

“Now that the Trillium grant is about to run out, the Child & Youth Transportation Program is in danger of becoming extinct. The grant from the Trillium Foundation will be finished as of January 2012 and there are currently no funding options to staff the coordinator position,” said Cheryl Hartwick, the chairperson of the Child and Youth Committee, which oversees the program.

While the transportation programme raises funds to pay for rides through various activities, it needs to find some core funding to keep an office, phone, and part-time co-ordinator in place.

Becky Kavanaugh coordinates volunteers and drives for the children and youth in the area. Since January, there have been 73 drives at a total of 5,838 kilometres. The program currently has four volunteer drivers (and sometimes borrows from the seniors’ transportation program when necessary).

“Although 73 drives may not seem like a lot to most people, to the kids (and their families) who have been able to participate in community events and to get to appointments, it is amazing. If we cannot find sustainable funding for the staffing position, the program will end and that would be devastating to the people who utilize it,” Hartwick said.

LOLCS is currently seeking a way to maintain the program and any ideas would be welcome.

“Please contact Becky at 613-336-8934 if you can help in any way or have any thoughts on how to keep this valuable program operating,” Hartwick said.