Transdev/TAPS Paratransit Partners With Meals on Wheels Bringing Food to Needy

Our operations are not only rising up to the chance to help their communities, they are reaching out and uncovering new opportunities. This could not be truer than in Sherman, Texas, where Transdev General Manager Josh Walker oversees the Texoma Area Paratransit System (TAPS).

The moment Josh realized that there was a drop in demand and a subsequent reduction in service due to the coronavirus crises, his thoughts went straight to his regular passengers. Without the transportation service that TAPS provides to the senior, at-risk and disabled population in his predominantly rural community, he knew his customers would be alone, isolated and potentially without food.

Josh immediately reached out to all the local food pantries in TAPS’ six county service area in north central Texas to see how Transdev/TAPS could help. And, just as quickly, Josh and his drivers started working with Meals on Wheels, Greenhouse Pantry and the Feeding Fannin County coalition to pick up and deliver much needed, shelf-stable (non-perishable) to those in need in and around the community.

Here’s just a snapshot of the positive impact this service has had on the community to date.

•  Meals on Wheels of Texoma: 547 trips approximately 3,000 shelf-stable meals (MOW’s ultimate goal is to deliver 12,000 meals)
•  Green House Food Pantry: 57 trips 174 boxes of shelf-stable meals
•  Feeding Fannin County: 82 boxes of shelf-stable meals to area residents

Thank you to Josh Walker and his team for demonstrating how transit is truly an integral part of a community.

Check out some of the media coverage Josh and his team received based on his partnership with Meals on Wheels.