For the City Times

MENOMONIE — A program called New Freedom Transportation Program has announced that it will be expanding service to 11 new counties of; Adams, Forest, Florence, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Portage, Taylor, Vilas, and Wood.

Over 3000 riders who are elderly or have disabilities have been given over 430,000 rides since the program began operations in 2008. The trips given include medical, social, training, employment, nutrition, and personal business such as benefits counseling, banking and other needed appointments.

The New Freedom Transportation Program currently is in need of more volunteer drivers for the new 11 county transportation service area. The Center reimburses the drivers at federal mileage rate currently 53 1/2 cents per mile. Drivers can sign up to volunteer for as many days as they would like. Drivers must have a valid Wisconsin drivers license, clean back ground check and proof of liability insurance.

Any interested transportation stakeholder or interested driver may attend one of the following open houses. Interested drivers may submit a simple driver application before the open house (or at the open house) and attend the driver’s orientation the same day with clean background check (will be done same day).

The schedule for all 3 days is as follows – please reserve your spot by calling 1-800- 228-3287 to tell us which session you will be attending. The following is the schedule for all 3 open houses;

-10AM – 11AM: New Freedom Transportation information
-11AM – 11:30 a.m.: free lunch
-11:30 p.m. – 1PM: new driver’s orientation

-Oct. 19 — Midstate Independent Living Consultants, 3262 Church St. Suite 1, Stevens Point WI 54481

-Oct. 23; North Central Health Care, 1100 Lakeview Drive, Wausau, WI 54403 (1106 Board Room-Main Entrance) –

-Nov. 6; Oneida

For driver application or for more information contact Denise Larson or Bobbi Craig at the Center at 800-228- 3287 or email larsond@cilww.com, craigb@cilww.com, or driver application can be found at www.cilww.com and returned by email before the open houses.