Red Cross in Wichita Cuts Ride Service for Elderly

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) – The American Red Cross in Wichita is ending a free service that provides the elderly with rides to medical appointments.

Michelle Jantz, executive director of the American Red Cross Midway Kansas Chapter, said in a statement that no other organization so far has announced plans to take over the program. It ends June 29.

The program offers rides to medical appointments to residents ages 60 and older who live within Wichita. It donates 15,300 one-way trips each year to 600 residents, averaging 29 round-trip rides each weekday. The program costs about $370,000 a year.

The Wichita Eagle reports that the decision to end the ride program came from the national Red Cross office as part of an effort to focus on disaster relief and blood donations.