Mary Blythe, 88, says she sometimes has trouble getting to church. She attends Unitarian Fellowship on North 1100 Road and finding a ride isn’t always easy and transportation services aren’t available on Sundays. Until now, that is.

Friday afternoon Blythe and dozens of other area senior citizens gathered on the top floor of the Douglas County Senior Center to hear several speakers address issues related to aging, how to stay healthy and happy, and to hear the results of Community Village Lawrence’s recent seven-week study for its transportation program.

Chris Holmer, CVL chairperson, said the study was meant to gauge the transportation program’s capacity to handle requests, schedule drivers and wrangle volunteers.

Ben Tasner, an AmeriCorps volunteer and program coordinator, said over the length of the study, 25 round trips were completed, more than 300 miles were traveled and more than 30 hours of time were volunteered.

“And it wasn’t all driving,” he said. “If they took someone to the grocery store they’d go in and walk with them. If they took them to the movies they’d help them find a seat.”

That personal interaction is an important aspect of aging, guest speaker and DCSS Chairman Dennis Domer told the crowd.

Domer touched on the changing roles of the elderly within the country and assured his listeners that getting older need not mean the end of their usefulness.

Senior citizens have much to offer, Domer said, from the preservation of a culture on down to sharing their years of experience with younger generations. But in order to play that part, they have to utilize what resources they have to make the best of their twilight years.

“That’s why it’s so important to be connected with family and not to be put out to pasture. Staying close to friends and family, that’s the key,” he said. “That’s as positively correlated to longevity as smoking is negatively correlated to longevity.”

In addition with that familial connection, Domer said seniors can do many other things to improve the quality and duration of their lives, including getting back to nature, living with purpose, having faith, exercising, eating healthy, drinking the occasional glass of wine and more.

Although there are other transportation services available in town, Holmer said CVL is the only program to offer rides on evenings and Sundays.

“Those Sundays are going to be a real asset,” Blythe said, noting that she could use the services to get to church.

Blythe said she already used the service for a ride and enjoyed her experience with CVL.

“They picked me up at Perkins and took me home and everything worked perfect,” she said. “The ride was just wonderful.”

Blythe said she’s sure she could use the transportation program more often, but she’s concerned about the cost. Holmer said the organization has scholarship opportunities to help cut costs.

Along with the transportation program, Holmer said CVL will offer other services to help seniors live their lives more fully. Those services include friendly visits, help with grocery shopping, household help and technical support, to name a few.

The organization is currently open for enrollment and will begin serving clients in January, Holmer said.

More information can be found online at www.communityvillagelawrence.org or at 505-0187.