WestCAT to Begin Deliveries for Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa

Pinole, CA, April 8, 2020- the Western Contra Costa Transit Authority along with its operator MV Transportation, Inc. is pleased to announce a partnership with Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa to assist with the additional need to get food to homebound senior citizens who require nutritious daily meals, “due to one or more chronic health conditions that prevent their preparing meals for themselves” as is stated on their website.

Beginning Tomorrow, Thursday, April 9, 2020, WestCAT will be utilizing its fleet of 10 paratransit vehicles to deliver meals on Thursdays and Fridays throughout the West Contra Costa Region. Paratransit drivers in teams of two will report to the Hercules Senior Center each morning to pick up the containers of frozen meals that have been prepared for distribution, and will have a list of clients and addresses that they will be delivering to throughout the region. As the need is expected to increase, it is possible that additional delivery days will be added later.

MV Transportation General Manager, Peter Edwards, who manages the operations and maintenance contract at WestCAT in Pinole, reached out to Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa to offer assistance. Since Governor Gavin Newsom issued a stay at home order on March 19, 2020, “in order to protect the health and well-being of all Californians and to establish consistency across the state in order to slow the spread of COVID-19”, the WestCAT Dial-A-Ride and ADA Paratransit services are now only carrying passengers for essential trips as defined by the order https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/03/19/governor-gavin-newsom-issues-stay-at-home-order/, and consequently, ridership levels have significantly declined.

According to WestCAT’s General Manager, Charles Anderson, “There is a critical need for delivery drivers in the region for this type of service, and as WestCAT has both the vehicles and drivers available to assist, and the cooperation of our contractor MV Transportation that actually coordinated this effort with Meals on Wheels, it is a win-win situation, and we are happy to be of service to the community”.

WestCAT has provided public transportation for Western Contra Costa County since 1977. For more information about WestCAT routes and services please visit www.westcat.org or call (510) 724-7993.