As United Way of Utah County is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, I want to reflect on some great choices made early in our history that have continued to benefit our community. Paratransit is one of those choices, made with foresight, that have had an immense impact.

Over the past 50 years, Paratransit has provided invaluable support to thousands of our dear friends and neighbors in Utah County. When Paratransit began back in the 1970s, there were very few options for people with limited mobility to access important resources. Vehicles with wheelchair lifts were not available in town, making simple errands such as grocery shopping a real challenge for many people.

Thanks to the passion and dedication of many community leaders and organizations in Utah County, a transportation service was developed to help seniors and those with disabilities get to important places quickly, safely and conveniently. When Utah Transit Authority came into town, Paratransit partnered with UTA to expand services, and Paratransit became a critical component of the state’s transportation network.

Since those early years, when the Paratransit team consisted of just a handful of people, we have seen significant growth. The Utah County operation now includes about 30 professional and volunteer drivers, and provides curb-to-curb service and even beyond-the-curb service to those with physical, cognitive, or visual disabilities who are unable to access the regular bus services.

Courtesy United Way

Every day, these dedicated drivers brave the weather, the traffic, and (frequently) construction in order to ensure that the needs of our community members are met. Their compassion, as well as their technical expertise on the roads, provides security and hope to those who would otherwise be unable to take care of the most everyday errands.

One family reached out to us to let us know how grateful they are for these transportation services. Their father was bedridden, and it was very difficult and painful for him to get in and out of a car to get to doctor appointments. With Paratransit, he is able to stay in his wheelchair and be transported to appointments with minimal pain. Something that many of us might take for granted each day makes a big difference for this family and their father.

In addition to the full- and part-time team at Paratransit, there is also a group of dedicated volunteers who provide additional driving services to patrons. Starting in 2017, the Utah Valley Rides program began offering additional service options for seniors in Utah County. This program, which depends on volunteer drivers, also provides patrons with an important social outlet as they are driven to doctor appointments, grocery stores, and other places that are important to the riders.

One of the Utah Valley Rides volunteer drivers began volunteering with the program because she was so thankful for the service in her own life. Her husband had health issues and used a wheelchair, and it was becoming physically difficult for her and painful for him to get him in and out of the car for regular appointments.

Once she found Utah Valley Rides, she began using the service to take her husband to and from his appointments, and while she was waiting for him during his appointments, she started volunteering as a driver. She continues to volunteer now, even though her husband has since passed away. I love to hear these stories about our amazing community members being connected to vital resources and then finding a way to give back.

Courtesy United Way

Thanks to the wonderful staff members and volunteers at Paratransit, thousands of people can access needed resources even during the wettest winter months. For more information about these essential services, or to volunteer as a driver, please call 801-374-9306.