• TARTA News

(Toledo, Ohio) – It’s been the long-standing mission of the Anne Grady non profit organization to provide dignity and quality services for hundreds of adults and children living with developmental disabilities. Services like, adult day programs, supportive living and connections to people to programs designed to enrich lives and make a difference.

“We serve people residentially throughout northwest Ohio,” Steve King, associate executive director, Anne Grady, said.  “Well over 100 people a day.”

Part of that includes transportation, whether it be to and from work, to doctor appointments, even trips to the grocery store.  On October 8, 2019, in partnership with TMACOG, TARTA helped make the drive easier, presenting the organization with a brand-new van.

“It’s a smaller vehicle which is perfect for some of the smaller medical trips that we do on a regular basis,” King said. “The fuel efficiency will come in handy as opposed to a bigger vehicle for those trips where you’re taking one person to a medical appointment.”

The van was purchased using grant money provided through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities program, also known as 5310 grant, provides funding to states to help nonprofit groups meet the transportation needs of older adults and people with disabilities. TARTA purchases the vehicles, does the inspections and draws down the grant money for maintenance that may be required.

“Having a reliable vehicle is huge,” King said.  “To have new vehicles that you can rely on to get in and around the community is a great benefit.”