New Peabody Veterans Shuttle Gives Fresh Look To Ride-Service Program

PEABODY, MA — The successful Peabody veterans shuttle program got a fresh look this week with the addition of a new vehicle to the service.

The city held an unveiling on Thursday with City Councilor At-Large Ann Manning-Martin, veteran Jeff Maguire and Dan Quirk of Quick Chevy honored for their roles in securing the new addition.

The shuttle program, started in 2017, involves Peabody veterans driving fellow veterans to their VA and private medical appointments in exchange for a property tax abatement. Veterans are asked to request a ride two weeks in advance of the appointment to arrange for door-to-door service.

Drivers in the service can earn up to $1,500 off their annual tax bill.

"Having a safe and dependable ride service is invaluable to our aging veteran population," Peabody Veterans Agent Steve Patten said. "It is really a win-win for the drivers and those using the service."

Patten credited Mayor Ted Bettencourt and the City Council for supporting the city's veterans with the shuttle program and other services, as well as the anonymous donor who helped secure the new shuttle.

The Quirk family supplemented the anonymous donation to pay for the vehicle, Manning-Martin coordinated the efforts and Maguire acted as a liaison between the city and the dealership to make Thursday's unveiling possible.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)