Senator Shelley Mayer, Mayor Mike Spano, Yonkers Office of the Aging and Seniors Celebrate the Purchase of New Vans with State Funds Secured by Senator Mayer
September 5, 2019
YONKERS, NY -- On Thursday, September 5th, State Senator Shelley Mayer, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, Yonkers Office for the Aging and seniors gathered at Bronx River Road (Scotti) Community Center to celebrate the purchase of four new vans for the Yonkers Office of the Aging. When Senator Mayer served in the Assembly, she secured $125,000 to replace vans that transport seniors for shopping, medical visits, and special events. The vans are also used to deliver meals to homebound seniors throughout the city.
Senator Shelley Mayer said, “I am proud to have secured $125,000 in funding for the Yonkers Office for the Aging to purchase four new vans. Thank you to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie for supporting this effort when I was in the Assembly and to Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for her continued commitment to Yonkers and our seniors. These transportation services ensure Yonkers seniors can travel to essential appointments, receive healthy meals, and remain socially connected to one another and to the community. I appreciate Mayor Spano and Yonkers Office for the Aging Director, Kelly Chiarella, for being such strong partners in this effort.”
“Providing transportation that is accessible and reliable is essential in ensuring a better and more enjoyable quality of life for our seniors,” said Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano. “This new fleet of vans will replace aging vehicles and allow our residents to continue in their daily activities. Thank you to Senator Mayer and our State leaders for securing these funds and advocating on our seniors’ behalf.”
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “As an Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer clearly recognized the integral role our seniors play in the vitality of our communities. I commend her and all my colleagues for securing state funds to purchase vans to assist older New Yorkers with transportation for medical visits, community events, and healthy meal delivery.”
Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “Thanks to Senator Shelley Mayer, Yonkers residents will have a little easier time getting to and from the places they need to be. Whether it’s an important medical appointment or a trip to the grocery store to get food for the week, these vans will be there to provide needed transport. Seniors are a vital part of the fabric that makes up our community and the City of Yonkers Office of Aging does important work. I am proud to be here to support them.”
“Yonkers Office For The Aging provides close to 30,000 rides a year and delivers approximately 75,000 meals annually using these vans to both homebound residents and for our 4 congregate nutrition sites. These much needed new vehicles are replacing vans that are up to 10 years old. We appreciate Senator Mayer’s efforts in securing these funds that will provide safe, clean transportation services for our senior Yonkers residents,” said Kelly Chiarella, Director, Yonkers Office for the Aging.
About State Senator Shelley B. Mayer
Senator Mayer was elected to the New York State Senate to represent the 37th District in an April 2018 Special Election, and she was subsequently re-elected in November 2018. The 37th State Senate District includes the Cities of Yonkers, White Plains, Rye and New Rochelle; the Towns of Bedford, Eastchester, Harrison, North Castle, Mamaroneck, and Rye; the Villages of Bronxville, Larchmont, Harrison, Mamaroneck, Port Chester, Rye Brook, and Tuckahoe; and the unincorporated places of Katonah, Bedford Hills, and Armonk.
Prior to her time in the State Senate, she served in the State Assembly for six years representing the City of Yonkers in the 90th Assembly District. Click here to read more about Senator Mayer.