The Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington received two federal grants totalling $520,000, both of which will be used to help transport its clients, JCA CEO David Gamse announced Monday.
JCA, located in Rockville, will use a $250,000 grant to create and operate a volunteer drive resource center. The total cost of the project is $312,500.
The center, which will operate in both Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, will offer a ride-scheduling system and driver training, as well as bulk purchase of background checks, according to a JCA news release. The grant also will be used for technical assistance in marketing, driver recruitment and volunteer management.
The second grant, for $270,000, will be used to purchase three passenger buses and to pay for their maintenance. That project is expected to cost $340,000.
JCA needs to replace some of its buses and expand its fleet, Gamse and JCA President Shel Grosberg said in a statement.
“We have spent way too much repairing them,” they said. “We have had so many of our vehicles in need of repair at the same time that it has been a challenge to have sufficient working vehicles to safely and reliably transport the senior and disabled populations we serve.”
The grants were distributed through the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments .
