The Tri-Valley Opportunity Council’s bus transportation service is continuing to operate under regular hours despite the shutdown of many public places. The bus is still available for trips to the grocery store and will be providing free trips to The New Hope Food Shelf when it is open over the next three weeks, according to RTC Coordinator Marcia Haglund. “Currently, we are going to over free bus rides to the community on Mondays and Wednesdays to the food shelf when their hours are open over at the Care and Share,” said Hagland. “As far as public transit itself, we are not changing our hours. We still are running 5:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturdays 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., and Sundays 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Those hours have not changed at all, so people are still able to ride, get to where you need to go, get to the grocery stores, and everything out there that is open.”
Meanwhile, the Tri-Valley’s senior programs have had some impact. Without school in session, the Foster Grandparent program is on hold, and the Caring Companion program is on a limited basis as needed, according to Senior Programs Director Marley Melbye. “The Foster Grandparent program with schools being closed down, we’re not sending our volunteers into the school sites,” said Melbye. “They are on hold until those schools are up and running, if and when they get up on running. Our Caring Companion program is on a limited basis as a necessity if people need things dropped off at the client’s house. We’re leaving it to them to connect to make sure no one is sick, and guidelines are followed. Just trying to make sure that everyone safe and healthy as much as we can.”
The Caring Companion program covers a variety of activities, including visiting with seniors to helping with errands, taking seniors to the grocery store or doctor’s appointments, and many other activities.
