ITNSuncoast, a nonprofit organization that provides transportation services in Sarasota and Manatee counties to seniors and others in need, has suspended its services effective Thursday, September 16, 2021. The organization stopped accepting reservations for rides on September 15.
“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,” said ITNSuncoast Executive Director Deral Pitts. “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.”
ITNSunCoast was founded in 2010 and over the years has supplied thousands of rides to individuals throughout Southwest Florida who have needed help getting to doctor appointments, social services, grocery stores, drugstores, libraries, as well as to restaurants, theatres, and more.
To support the community as the organization regroups, ITNSuncoast will provide a list of transportation alternatives on its website, itnsuncoast.org, and on its social media platforms facebook.com/ITNSuncoast and twitter.com/ITNSuncoast. As well, the organization is reaching out to users of its services through email and phone calls.
An affiliate of the Independent Transportation Network® (ITN), ITNSuncoast’s mission is to help individuals maintain independence and live joyful and meaningful lives by offering convenient, comfortable, and affordable transportation options. Since 2010, the organization has made rides available for any reason, seven days a week, at any time day or night, to anywhere within Sarasota and Manatee Counties.