Northwest Iowa — While the northwest Iowa bus service, called “Rides” is not operating due to COVID-19, officials there say they still want to help the community.
According to Cindy Voss, the Chief Operating Officer for Rides — which is based in Spencer — they are working with grocery stores in northwest Iowa to deliver groceries to seniors who can’t or don’t want to go out.
(As said:)”We are pleased to be partnering with Elderbridge Agency on Aging to help deliver products to individuals who may not be able to go out to get them. Right now we are for sure working with Hy-Vee. We are hoping to reach out to Fareways and Bomgaars, and other stores — or if a store has an interest in as doing that for them — if they wanted to connect with us — we’d be happy to do that as well.”
She tells us how it works.
(As said:)”Individuals just need to get their items ordered, then give us a call and we will arrange a time to deliver them directly to their house.”
Reservations must be made a day in advance for the service, which at this point is available in Orange City, Sheldon, Storm Lake, Spencer, Sioux Center, Spirit Lake, Estherville, and Emmetsburg. She says they hope to provide the service in other communities as well.
She says the service will be available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to noon, and will be free to individuals age 60 and older.
According to Voss, reservation for delivery must be made the day before, and then just call RIDES after you have completed your grocery order at 712-240-0990 and ask for grocery delivery. Note that this is not the same phone number that you call to reserve a ride on the bus when they are open for that service — it is a separate number.
RIDES will deliver your groceries only to your doorstep. Again, at this point, they’re working with Hy-Vee, but they hope to work with other stores as well. Again, call 712-240-0990 for more information.
