There are plenty of seniors who need a little pick-me-up — from a driver, that is.

Community Village Lawrence, a nonprofit agency that strives to keep people in their homes as they age, is having a “town hall” event from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 15 at the Lawrence Public Library to launch its transportation program for seniors.

The free event in the library auditorium will give seniors who need help with transportation an opportunity to apply for the pilot ride program. The program will provide free rides for about 20 registered users for two months as CVL assesses the needs of the community.

“This pilot period will allow us to gauge the demand and work out the kinks involved with scheduling and volunteer coordination,” said Ben Tasner, CVL program coordinator and AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer.

The organization has recruited several volunteer drivers but continues to look for more; anyone interested in driving for the program may also sign up at the town hall meeting.

Tasner said CVL will be considering the needs of the volunteer drivers.

“We will provide orientation, which will include learning how to assist people with limited mobility in and out of cars, and volunteers will be encouraged to be aware and sensitive to their own abilities and comfort level,” he said. “There will be no requirements in terms of time or availability.”

Tasner said CVL will be collecting feedback after every ride so that the agency can learn of any issues and identify potential improvements.

The library event will also include:

• An update on CVL, which is expecting to start taking memberships in January. CVL memberships will be available to Lawrence residents who want to stay at home as they age, but feel they may need extra support.
• Tai chi demonstration with an instructor from Lawrence Memorial Hospital’s Therapy Services. This beginner’s demo is suitable for people of all abilities.
• Refreshments for attendees

The mission of CVL is to enhance the quality of life for residents by helping neighbors remain in their homes as they age. “We aim to do this by creating a network of supports following the Village model to make aging at home a long-term, affordable option,” the agency’s website states.

The “Village model” is embodied in membership-driven, grass-roots organizations that, through both volunteers and paid staff, coordinate access to affordable services including transportation, health and wellness programs, home repairs, social and educational activities and other day-to-day needs that enable seniors to remain connected to their community throughout the aging process.

CVL is part of the national Village to Village network, which helps communities establish and manage their own Villages.

More information

Online: communityvillagelawrence.org

National network: vtvnetwork.org

Phone: 505-0187