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acts of kindness

ITNCoastalCT – It’s a TwoWay Street VOLUNTEER TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AVAILABLE TO HOMEBOUND ELDERLY IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY

I MAGINE HOW DIFFICULT LIFE BECOMES FOR OUR NEIGHBORS who are no longer able to drive. We take our mobility for granted, but the time comes for all of us when it is simply no longer smart to continue to drive. With public transportation non-existent in some area towns, and impractical in others, life as we know it becomes a major challenge when we can no longer drive ourselves. ITNCoastalCT offers community-based transportation services to residents over age 60 and to visually impaired adults, within and between Weston, Westport, Wilton, Easton, Fairfield and Nor- walk. Since its inception in 2010, ITN has provided more than 10,000 rides. Whether it’s to the doctor’s office, the supermarket, a yoga class or the hairdresser – if you want to go, there’s a simple, dignified way to get there, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The service is membership based and works on a debit sys- tem, so no money is exchanged at the time of service. Jean Winton, a Fairfield resident, stopped driving after her ninety-second birthday. While chatting with a friend about the inconvenience of being “stuck in the house,” she was approached by a woman who overheard the conversation and told her about ITN. Now she gets everywhere she wants to go. It’s a “marvelous” ser- vice. “There isn’t a driver I’ve had who I wouldn’t want as a friend.”

CHARLES ALFANO

* The feeling is mutual. Jacque Masumian, who has been driving for two years, echoed Mr. Alfano’s sentiment. “It’s like getting together with a friend. Many people are very interesting, always fun to talk to.” For the drivers, this is an easy volunteer opportunity, but more than that, it’s a connection to the prior generation, with the wealth of insight and experience they impart. “You learn so much from those who came before us. You get back more than you give,” says Suzanne Emery, who has been driving for a year and a half. Reflecting on the difficult situa- tion her family faced when it was time for her mother to stop driving, the decision to volunteer was easy. There’s an added benefit to driving. Volunteer drivers can “bank “ the miles they drive for their own future use, when they transition from driver to rider, or they may donate them to the Road Scholarship fund to subsidize rides for people in financial need. Suzanne Emery donated her banked miles to a rider in need. “Why would you do that?” the rider asked. “Why wouldn’t I?” Emery replied. Indeed. For information about membership, to volunteer, or to make a donation to ITN, please contact Nancy McCormick, Executive Director, 203–858-2001; info@itncoastalct.org To learn more about the organization, visit www.itncoastalct.org ITNCoastalCT, an affiliate of ITNAmerica, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

“It’s a wonderful innova- tion, a wonderful idea,” says Woody Klein of Westport, who is currently unable to drive because of a minor phys- ical disability. ITN “enables me to go where I want to go when I want…to parties, con- certs, doctors appointments.” He gives it “5 stars.” Charles Alfano, also of Westport, finds ITN “abso- lutely indispensable. It has be- come something I could never do without.” He is grateful that he doesn’t have to rely on his daughter, as he does not want to be a burden to her.

SUZANNE CARBERY EMERY WITH JEAN

WINTON AT THE ITNCOASTALCT ANNUAL

Mr. Alfano could not be more satisfied with the prompt, courteous, arm in arm, door through door service. “It’s just like getting a ride from a friend. They don’t leave sight of you until they know you’re secure. It’s more than just driving.”

44 WESTONMAGAZINEGROUP.COM

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