LOWER MERION – Officials from the Kaiserman JCC recently cut the ribbon on a new bus service that will help older adults and people with mobility issues take advantage of its services.

This new shuttle is a large-capacity bus that can be operated without a commercial driver’s license. It will expand the JCC’s ability to serve older adults, youth, and community members with mobility challenges throughout Lower Merion.

Lower Merion Township Manager Erine McNeely was on hand to help cut the ribbon since the township provided a $50,000 grant to help fund the purchase of the bus.

The grant money from Lower Merion was from the American Rescue Plan grants the township received.

The bus will be for the JCC’s Gems programs. Gems is their programming for older adults.

Alan Scher, CEO of the Kaiserman JCC, said the bus will be very helpful for helping people take advantage of their programs.

“We hear consistently from the community how important transportation is, ensuring that active older adults can effectively get to and from the Kaiserman JCC, to say nothing of the bounty of programs, events, and offerings farther afield that we can facilitate,” Scher said as he prepared to cut the ribbon on the new bus. “And so this gift of this wonderful van, paid for by our partners at Lower Merion Township, provides a real catalyst for our continued programming for older adults here at the Kaiserman JCC. So we are grateful to Lower Merion Township, grateful for all of you inspiring it, and may this be the first of many runs.”

Following the ribbon cutting, Scher said they regularly hear from their older members how difficult it can be to drive to their programs.

Rabbi Moriah SimonHazani said they are also using the bus for programs outside the JCC’s Wynnewood programs, such as a trip to the Brandywine River Museum.

The director of the Gems program and the bus driver is Rachel Sakofs. She can be reached at RSakofs@PhillyJCC.com or by calling (610) 896-7770 for more information on Gems programs.

For more information on JCC programs, visit their website at www.phillyjcc.com or call 610-896-7770.