Once a week, my friends group dines out at a local restaurant. Most of the people in my group are either blind or have other disabilities which prevent them from driving. As a result, we have to pay drivers to take us out because public transportation doesn’t run too late. We don’t mind paying because it gives us an opportunity to fellowship with one another, though some of our members can’t afford to go out each week given their limited budgets.
Last year, someone recommended that I apply for a grant to help our group with transportation costs. I took the suggestion seriously, and a few months later, I learned that the Community Building Mini-grants Program in my city might be the resource that I needed. I applied for a mini-grant, and was approved for $1,700.
The way it works is that our drivers submit receipts that indicate how much money each passenger paid for transportation and who the passengers were. I would turn the receipts into the granter, who would then write out a check for the total amount of money among all the receipts. Once I have the check from the granter, I would cash it and distribute the money accordingly. I would continue this process until the entire grant expires.
You may have an opportunity to do the same thing in your community. If you know people who limit their social lives because transportation costs too much money, there may be a community grants program in your area that can help. It never hurts to find out. Think of how happy and fulfilled those with disabilities are knowing that they can save money and be a bit more active because of a mini-grant.
Bob Branco
