NE Queens Seniors To Get Free Rides To Doctors' Appointments

BAYSIDE, NY — Seniors living in northeast Queens will get free rides to and from the doctor's office starting Oct. 10, when Selfhelp Community Services' free transportation program returns for another season.

Since 2017, Selfhelp Clearview Senior Center has partnered with local car services to offer seniors free rides to medical appointments, with funding from City Council Member Paul Vallone. The program lasts until funding runs out.

This year's transportation program has $150,000 in funding from Vallone, the City Council and Queens Borough President Melinda Katz — nearly four times the funding the pilot program got in 2017.

The rides are available to seniors living in Vallone's City Council district, which consists of Auburndale, Bay Terrace, Bayside, Beechhurst, College Point, Douglaston, Flushing, Little Neck, Malba and Whitestone.

"In transportation deserts like northeast Queens, where our Clearview Senior Center is located, older adults are often isolated in their homes due to the lack of affordable, accessible, and reliable transportation services," Sandy Myers, vice president of external affairs and communications for Selfhelp Community Services, said in a statement.

"Investments by government, including through this program, enable older New Yorkers to continue to age with independence and dignity in the City they call home."

Four years ago, @PaulVallone came to us with an idea: free transportation services to help seniors get to and from medical appointments. We're pleased to announce that this program is going strong and will kick off again on Thursday, Oct. 10! pic.twitter.com/obeX5O0jX9
— Selfhelp (@SelfhelpNY) October 7, 2019

To make an appointment, seniors can call the Selfhelp Clearview Senior Center at 718-224-7888 between 9 a.m. and noon to schedule rides for the following day.

Seniors who use the service will need to fill out a basic application with demographic information and an emergency contact and provide their destination. When ready for pickup, the senior will call again for their return trip.