SOLANA BEACH — Jewish Family Service is offering free transportation for older adults in Solana Beach to help them complete errands, travel to appointments, and stay connected with their community.
The Solana Beach service operates under nonprofit Jewish Family Service’s larger On The Go program, which provides free transportation to seniors in various cities throughout the county. The program aims to support independence and mobility for older adults.
The Solana Beach City Council agreed earlier this year to pilot the senior transportation program for six months, running from May through the end of October. The city is also seeking additional funding to extend the program beyond that timeframe.
On The Go Solana Beach is open to residents ages 65 and older and operates Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It offers various levels of service, including curb-to-curb, door-to-door, or door-thru-door for those who need extra assistance.
Drivers include vetted volunteers, JFS staff and rideshare drivers through Uber Health and Lyft Healthcare.
Ali Pearlman of Rancho Santa Fe has volunteered with On The Go for six years and now drives seniors in Solana Beach. She said the program offers flexible times for volunteers, so she can easily fit rides into her schedule while running errands.
“I love it, because it’s easy, you’re giving back to the community, and you meet the most amazing people,” Pearlman said.
JFS is seeking more volunteer drivers who can assist seniors in Solana Beach.
Interested volunteers can complete an interest form at jfssd.org/volunteer/on-the-go-driver. They will be connected with a JFS volunteer engagement coordinator to complete the enrollment and onboarding process, including background and DMV screenings, privacy and driver safety training, and orientation on the ride-scheduling system.
JFS provides secondary insurance coverage to volunteer drivers and reimburses their mileage for On The Go rides at the current IRS maximum rate.
Seniors interested in using the program can schedule a ride by calling 858-923-1344, or they can enroll by visiting jffsd.org. Rides must be scheduled at least five days in advance and must begin and end within Solana Beach.
Adults 65 and older make up over one quarter of Solana Beach’s population, outnumbering children in the city. A survey of seniors in the community found that most rely on a personal car for transportation.
