Nonprofit That Provides Rides To Seniors In Sarasota, Manatee Suspends Services

SARASOTA, FL — A Sarasota-based nonprofit that provides transportation services to seniors and individuals with visual challenges in Sarasota and Manatee counties suspended its services Thursday because of a driver shortage.

ITN SunCoast stopped accepting reservations for rides Wednesday, according to an email from the organization.

"As a result of the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have suddenly found ourselves faced with an insufficient number of volunteer drivers to adequately meet community demand for transportation assistance," ITN SunCoast Executive Director Deral Pitts said. "Our hope is that we can regroup as an organization, build up a right-sized fleet of volunteer drivers, and resume operations at some point in the future."

Founded in 2010, ITN SunCoast is part of the ITN America network, which unites organizations across the country to support the transportation needs of older people.

ITN SunCoast provided rides seven days a week, 24 hours a day. The nonprofit’s services were for any purpose, including trips to doctor’s appointments, grocery store, shops, religious services, salons and more.

Rides were in private automobiles by trained drivers, rather than vans or buses, according to the nonprofit’s website. All rides were pre-paid through a user’s personal transportation account.

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During its suspension of services, ITN SunCoast encourages its users to reach out to other transportation providers in the area, including:

• Consider It Done: Serves Manatee and Sarasota counties. Call 941-896-4089 or learn more online.
• Doctor’s Transport: Serves Sarasota, Bradenton, North Port and Venice. Call 941-924-4990 or learn more online.
• FISH of Sarasota: Serves Sarasota. Call 941-953-5838.
• Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) Plus: Serves Sarasota County. Call 941-861-1234 or learn more online.
• Seniors on the Go: Serves Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice and surrounding areas. Call 941-444-0569 or learn more online.
• Manatee County Area Transit: Serves Manatee County. Call 941-749-7116 or learn more online.
• Lyft: A nationwide service. Learn more online.
• Uber: A nationwide service. Learn more online.