New initiative helps seniors in north Winnipeg get to grocery stores
The Food Access Bus aims to help seniors with mobility issues or no transportation get monthly essentials
A new program that helps seniors who lack transportation or have mobility issues get to and from the grocery store had its first run Thursday in three North Winnipeg neighbourhoods.
Under the Food Access Bus, or FAB, program, a chartered Winnipeg Transit bus made four trips, taking more than 40 seniors from their homes in the Elmwood, North Kildonan and East Kildonan areas to Walmart and Superstore for free.
The idea was spearheaded by the Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation, which aims to create initiatives that benefit the Elmwood-area neighbourhood. It got $7,000 in funding from area city councillors Jason Schreyer (Elmwood-East Kildonan) and Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan).
Leilani Villarba, the renewal corporation's executive director, says the idea for the Food Access Bus stemmed from conversations with a network of people who work with seniors in Winnipeg.
One challenge that was consistent among seniors was the lack of transportation.
"One of the things that they couldn't get to were grocery stores, and the cost of taking a taxi or getting on a bus was a little overwhelming for them," Villarba said.
The program, which is free of charge for those who sign up, is also intended to help alleviate anxieties seniors may have around grocery shopping. For some, a quick trip could require days of planning.
Elaine Strilaeff, 88, who has low mobility and uses a walker, was part of the first run on Thursday.
For over a decade, she has been using the city's Transit Plus service to get to grocery stores, but she said those trips limit her and she often racks up a big tab at the end of the month. She also sometimes has to wait outside for smaller buses to pick her up, she said.
The new program gives her more flexibility and space, said Strilaeff.
"It's so much easier getting onto a bus like this than it is having to force yourself to sit in the back of a car. It's very hard to get into … especially at our age," she said.
Most of the seniors who took part in the program Thursday have a fixed income.
WATCH | How a new program is helping seniors get their groceries:
Inflation and the rising costs of everyday essentials mean Strilaeff has to look for the best deals, she said.
"It's hard for everybody, but seniors are really feeling the pinch.… You have to check everything out before you buy it."
Schreyer, who was at Thursday's launch to meet participants, said funding the program was a no-brainer.
"It's important for people to have access to food and access to whatever important shopping they need to do for themselves," the Elmwood-East Kildonan councillor said.
The funding from the city will help cover the cost of chartering a Winnipeg Transit bus. It also means the program will run at least once a month until the end of the year.
Villarba said the first run gave the Chalmers neighbourhood organization a chance to see what can be improved.
"We got to work out some kinks and make sure that the bus is full, and we are able to kind of manage the capacity of the groceries and the people."
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