CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency (HIRTA) has landed an Alliant Energy Foundation grant for its HopeLink program, which will provide free rides to and from the Perry Food Pantry to area residents starting July 1.
The $2,000 Alliant Energy Foundation grant will help kick start the HIRTA HopeLink in Perry, according to HIRTA Executive Director Julia Castillo.
“It’s new,” Castillo told ThePerryNews.com Friday. “Our HopeLink service is where we will transport people who are food insecure to the food pantry for free so that they can get necessary food that they need. We feel like if they can’t afford to purchase enough food to supply to their family, then they probably aren’t going to spend that to ride the bus.”
For those pantry users, the Alliant grant will step in to “cover the full cost for them so that we can provide those rides free,” Castillo said. “We’re super excited about it.”
She said HIRTA is launching a similar program in Winterset in Madison County.
“We’re very excited with this new partnership,” said Perry Food Pantry Site Coordinator Lou Hoger. “HopeLink will be a great service and a tremendous opportunity that will enable many of our prospective customers to access the resources of the pantry.”
HopeLink trips will be treated like all other HIRTA rides, with a $2 charge each way for in-town trips within Perry. Rides are provided on a demand-response basis, door to door, and must be scheduled one day in advance by calling 1-877-686-0029 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. or by emailing at erides@ridehirta.com.
The Perry Food Pantry at 3000 Willis Ave. is open Tuesdays 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Thursdays 1-3:30 p.m.
HIRTA is one of 19 area nonprofit organizations to be awarded community grants totaling $32,191 from the Alliant Energy Foundation in the current granting cycle.
“We’re looking for creative solutions that support our customers and communities,” said Julie Bauer, executive director of the Alliant Energy Foundation. “Our nonprofit partners are constantly working to make life better. Community Grants are one way we stand behind them as they solve problems for families, education and the environment.”
