FCSS introduces new driving program

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

Strathmore’s Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) will be offering a volunteer driving program this month for people in need of transportation.
FCSS began negotiations for the program back in July because they felt there was a lack of transportation for Strathmore residents, who would normally rely on taking taxi service.
“We’re very excited to get this up and running,” said FCSS Programmer Dahrlyne Knaus. “It’s been a long time coming and I know with our needs assessment that’s going to be revealed this year, I think this will be one of the needs and we’re trying to fulfill that need any way we can.”
Knaus said the service is available to everyone, where the volunteer driver will come to the caller’s house, pick them up, take them where they need to go, and wait for them.
“We’re still getting off the ground,” she said. “Of course we’re still looking for volunteers drivers. We would put them through quite a screening process to make sure they have proper insurance coverage, they’re suitable drivers, they do all the crime checks. That’s why we decided to have the program so passengers and the drivers are protected.”
Clients are required to call the FCSS office to receive an intake form, where FCSS will find out what the clients needs are, when they need the service, and then will match a volunteer with a passenger.
The only fee expected to be paid is expense recovery. The clients will pay the driver $0.45 per kilometre around Strathmore, a $45 flat rate round trip to Calgary, while Strathmore to Drumheller return trip is $85, with the only requirement that the passenger has to be a Strathmore resident.
FCSS currently has four volunteer drivers signed up and would like two more drivers to come on board before the first driving session at 2:30 p.m. at the FCSS Office on March 9.
More information can be obtained by contacting the FCSS office at 403-934-9090.