This grant will help to defray key expenses such as rising insurance, fuel, and maintenance costs for three vehicles.
As an all-volunteer organization run by a single part-time independent contractor, HELP delivers results on a very small budget. HELP transports non-driving Carpinteria residents anywhere in town, for any purpose; trips to Santa Barbara are reserved for medical appointments and social services. HELP provides rides at no cost and never turns anyone away for inability to pay. A suggested donation of $2 per round-trip ride within Carpinteria and $10 per round-trip to Santa Barbara covers 24% of transportation costs; the remaining 76% depends on donors.
Last year, 62 HELP volunteer drivers and dispatchers provided 6,897 rides to nearly 600 non-driving residents who would otherwise have had no suitable means of transportation. This support helps non-driving residents to enjoy greater independence and enables many Carpinteria seniors to age in place.
