08-08-19 Handout- Beaches Council on AgingAugust 5, 2019
Mayor Ellen Glasser
City of Atlantic Beach
800 Seminole Road
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
Mayor Glasser,
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I am writing to request financial support from the City of Atlantic Beach for the Beaches Council on
Aging's (BCOA) flagship program, Dial -a -Ride.
As you are aware, Dial -A -Ride transportation originated with the BCOA 43 years ago when the nonprofit
formed to "represent elder care concerns within our beaches communities". The Dial -A -Ride program
provides personalized door to door transportation to hundreds of beaches area passengers These trips
include medical, dental, grocery, pharmacy, personal services (hair/nail salon), and social opportunities
arts/theater/seasonal events) — all supporting a homebound senior or disabled person's sense of
independence and hope. Transportation has proven to be a key element in the senior population's ability to
age -in-place", providing the ability to live in the homes and neighborhoods that they love.
Today, Dial -a -Ride (based at the Bennie Furlong Senior Center in Jax Beach) makes over 6,000 one-way trips
annually serving approximately 500 individual clients. Approximately 20% of those trips (1,200), and clients
100) reside in Atlantic Beach. Dial -A -Ride operates exclusively in the beach communities of Jacksonville
Beach, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach, Mayport, and Ponte Vedra Beach.
Beyond transportation, the BCOA is actively engaged in initiatives that support and improve senior living in
our communities, including urging for a more senior -friendly evacuation shelter during hurricane season, and
encouragement of more interactive arts and theater opportunities for our elder population.
The continued success of the Beaches Council on Aging and the Dial -A -Ride program and the expansion of
opportunities and services are rooted in dedicated community support and our community leadership. I
hope that the City of Atlantic Beach will soon consider joining in the financial support of this community -
worthy organization.
Sincerely,
Gary Tiller, Executive Director
Beaches Council on Aging 281 19th Ave. So. Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250