ERIN – East Wellington Community Services has a new bus, thanks in part to a $148,600 Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) grant though the provincial government.
EWCS driver Rick Hawes said the old bus had some close calls towards the end of its run, with the bus breaking down several times.
“It was all hands on deck” to come pick up volunteers, staff and clients whenever the van broke down, Hawes said.
EWCS CEO Kari Simpson said a new motor was installed to try to extend the life of the bus while EWCS raised the necessary funds for its new 2024 Ford G5 accessible bus.
There was a lot of excitement from EWCS adult day program clients as news arrived that a grant had been secured for the bus.
“At first, our clients would ask, ‘when are you getting your new bus’, then it was ‘when are we getting our new bus,’” Hawes said.
The bus holds 18 passengers, including two wheelchair spots.
It provides accessible transportation for seniors with cognitive and physical disabilities to various EWCS programs and services in Erin and Guelph-Eramosa.
Hawes said the new bus offers reliability and more safety features, such as three-point harness seat belts.
Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott commended EWCS for securing the grant at a time when demand exceeds the financial assistance available.
“It speaks to the quality of the application, the effort that went into putting it together and the idea behind it,” Arnott said.
“You demonstrated the need, and you put it together.”
Simpson noted EWCS is grateful to Arnott and his office, and to MP Michael Chong and his office, for reaching out when there are opportunities to apply for government funding.
According to the County of Wellington, Erin’s population is expected to increase dramatically in the next several years, increasing EWCS’ funding requirements.
EWCS is down one van in its fleet of five vans, four of which are used to transport community members to medical and social appointments, and for day to day needs like banking and getting groceries.
The fifth is a refrigerated van used for the food bank.
As well as replacing the van that had to be retired, Simpson said EWCS’ 2014 wheelchair accessible van is aging, noting, “it’s getting hard now to pull the lift out.”
Simpson said it will have to be replaced, and costs have skyrocketed.
“Ten years ago, it was $50,000 and now it costs $90,000 to replace it.”
Simpson added the old bus cost approximately $90,000 when purchased 10 years ago.
“This time around, we paid 160,000,” she said.
EWCS board chair Laurie Davis said the life expectancy of vehicles in the fleet is about 10 years, and ongoing funds are needed.
EWCS is looking at ways of securing capital funding that is specific to transportation over extended time periods, “so we’re not looking for $150,000 at a time, which is very difficult for a small organization like ours to raise quickly,” Davis said.
The Erin Rotary club and the Torrance Foundation donated funds for the new bus to help EWCS cover the cost, over and above the OTF grant.
Simpson said The Optimist Club and the Erin District Lions Club also support EWCS.
“We are so fortunate that we have a generous community here that really believes in what we do, and always seem to step up,” she said.
Arnott praised EWCS’ staff and volunteers and said the community “works hard to raise money that’s required because they are confident you are going to put it to good use.”
Simpson noted EWCS celebrated its 40th anniversary this summer, and EWCS clients spoke at the celebration.
“We’re fortunate that our clients think that much of us and what the staff have done for them to come out and speak at those events and put themselves out there,” she said.
“It really does take a community to keep our programs running.”
Donations to EWCS can be sent to finance@ew-cs.com.
