Independence, Mo., Ministerial Alliance To Donate Bus Passes

I received this news release yesterday and thought this might be of interest to the broader civic engagement community:

On Thursday, April 3, the Independence Ministerial Alliance (IMA) will deliver Kansas City Area Transportation Authority bus passes to three charities to support their ministry to the working poor. The Rev. Patricia Miller, DMin, President of IMA and Vicar of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, explained, “The religious community knows that the poor rely on public transportation to get to work and basic services; this is a gesture of care for the needy and at the same time we are showing support for our community’s bus system.”

Rev. Miller will meet representatives from Community Services League, Hillcrest Transitional Housing, and the Salvation Army on Independence’s Orange Route at the Sterling Ave and Winner Road bus stop at 1:30 p.m. They will be joined by Danny O’Connor, Planner, KCATA.

(The bus stop is on Winner, 1/2 block West of Sterling. It has a shelter and Englewood as a nice backdrop. Parking is handy on the street.)

Cotton Sivils, Director of Hillcrest Transitional Housing in Eastern Jackson County, tells the story of one resident last year who “did not have a car and rode the bus from Independence, all the way downtown, and then back out to Liberty to be able to work. Then, at the end of the day, she had to reverse that route to get to our residence. It made for an awfully long day. Now, that shows determination. It also shows you how difficult it is for the poor to get to work or travel to attend to other needs.”

Sue Crumpton, Executive Director of Community Services League, said her agency’s Work Express program gives bus passes so that lower wage employees can get to their jobs or look for employment. “We are completely out of passes,” Crumpton reported, “so this donation is really timely.” Crumpton also serves as IMA Second Vice-President.

Major David Womack, local leader for The Salvation Army, reported that many Crossroads shelter residents depend on public transportation to get to work, to medical appointments, and to classes vital for their social development.  "The Salvation Army is delighted to receive these passes," Womack added.   "We are also happy to partner with the IMA and the Transportation Authority in this effort."

Rev. Miller cited last year’s KCATA Riders’ Survey which revealed that 64% of riders were going to or looking for work. The same survey indicated 46% of bus passengers had no other form of transportation.

192 bus passes were purchased with a portion of dues congregations paid to IMA. Rev. Miller said, “We wanted this tithe from our dues to highlight the dignity that public transportation provides. All of God’s people deserve to get to work, medical care, or the grocery store.”