“Five Points Wheels” is a combination subscription/demand response transportation program serving the elderly and disabled with out access to transportation in the Five Points area of Columbia. (The area’s boundary is Huger, River Road, Beltline and Rosewood Ave.) The program will operate 6 days a week approximately 6 hours per day. The service will be offered to clientele prequalified through a membership mechanism. Pick up and destinations will occur within the boundary. The program is designed to avoid qualification criteria other than a need for transportation. There will be no charge for rides with donations accepted. The drivers will be volunteers.

We have just completed the application for the vehicle for Five Points Wheels to the South Carolina Department of Transportation. The DOT has a program for the funding of 80% of the cost for vehicles to be used for the transportation of the Elderly and Disabled.

We should be hearing from the DOT regarding the status of the request by May 19, 2007. As soon as approval has been issued, we will be asking the community for the 20% of the vehicle cost. This is estimated to be $10,000.

A special thanks needs go out to all the partners:

AARP

American Cancer Society

Central Midlands Council of Governments

Christopher Towers

City of Columbia

Finlay House

Home Helpers

Palmetto Health Geriatric Services

Regency Hospice

Richland County

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church

Shandon United Methodist Church

Silver Haired Legislature

University of South Carolina School of Medicine

Work in Progress

The Five Points Wheels Project was made possible through a grant from the SC Lt Governor’s Office on Aging