Winter 2021
Windsor Rotary Community Foundation officially launched its COVID Vaccine Access Project yesterday with a grant to Circuit Rider Windsor Wheels that will help provide local seniors with rides to and from Covid vaccination clinics.
While vaccines are now becoming available, supplies are currently limited and there is fierce competition to get appointments to actually receive the vaccine. Often, the oldest and most-health compromised individuals are least likely to be successful in negotiating the online registration process and in physically getting to a vaccine distribution site.
Che Casul, Circuit Rider Executive Director, accepts check from Rotarian Sue Nelson.The beneficiary of this grant, Circuit Rider, is an established non-profit public service agency of long-standing that operates from its base in Windsor. In partnership with Sonoma County Area Agency on Aging and the Town of Windsor, Circuit Rider provides rides for local homebound seniors at no cost to them in Windsor and a small area of North Santa Rosa through a program known as Windsor Wheels. Rides are provided for medical and social/recreational appointments, and food shopping. The mission of the Windsor Wheels program is to reduce isolation and increase overall wellness in our senior population.
Circuit Rider Executive Director Che Casul said, “Circuit Rider’s Windsor Wheels program provides free rides through our wonderful volunteers to those vulnerable seniors who have lost their license or do not have access to readily available transportation. Our staff are so grateful to the Rotary Club of Windsor for this grant which will allow us to recruit more drivers and expand our coordination staff time so that we can ensure the at-risk seniors in our community can have a safe means of traveling to and from Covid-19 vaccination appointments. Thank you Windsor Rotary Club!”
Although rides are provided by volunteer drivers, Circuit Rider incurs ongoing costs related primarily to administration and insurance. To address the need for additional funds, Windsor Rotary is providing a grant in the amount of $2,500.00 in support of Circuit Rider Windsor Wheels program.