Neighbors

A safe shuttle for Wantagh seniors

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FISH volunteers gathered at the Wantagh Public Library for an annual luncheon on May 6.
FISH volunteers gathered at the Wantagh Public Library for an annual luncheon on May 6.
Rebecca Anderson/Herald

For many senior citizens in the Wantagh area, driving to the doctor or dentist can be a hassle. But with the help of Friends In Safe Hands, or FISH, getting to necessary appointments is no longer an issue. 

The organization offers door-to-door transportation for seniors from Wantagh and Bellmore to medical appointments for the elderly. Its mission is to help those in need, organizers said.

More than 40 FISH officers and volunteers from Wantagh, North Wantagh, Bellmore and North Bellmore gathered at a luncheon on May 6 at the Wantagh Public Library. They discussed recruitment efforts and other aspects of the group.

“There isn’t always good or reliable public transportation and cabs are very expensive,” said Director Paul Desroaches, of Wantagh. “We are trying to develop camaraderie, so when someone calls for a ride they already know them.”

The FISH movement began in 1961, when members of a church in England took action to make their neighborhood more kind and caring. They devised a means for neighbors to signal distress and a way for volunteers to deliver aid. The fish symbol was chosen as the logo to represent the idea for renewed community involvement.

Nine years later, several friends founded FISH of Wantagh. They distributed fliers to recruit volunteers from a cross-section of the community to help others close to home. In its early years, the group served anyone in need by providing babysitting services, shopping, hot meals, transportation and more. 

Over time, the organization’s mission came to focus exclusively on the growing number of older residents in Wantagh and Bellmore who worry about how they will get to medical appointments and tend to vital errands. The group now provides about 100 rides a month, ferrying seniors to and from doctors’ and dentists’ appointments across Nassau County. 

“Last year the organization gave out close to 1,300 free rides to senior citizens,” Desroaches added. “We plan to give out even more this year.”

For more information on Friends In Safe Hands transportation or to volunteer as a driver, call (516) 861-6032. Most driving is done on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.