C.A.R.S. program reaches new milestone

JOPLIN, Mo. — Getting from point "A" to point "B" may not be a problem for many of us — but that's not the case for everyone.

Providing free rides for those who need them is the purpose behind the "C.A.R.S." program through the Economic Security Corporation of Southwest Missouri. We've reported on it before: It stands for "Community Action Ride System."

Cavanaugh Studyvin runs it, and says it's already reached a milestone she never thought possible when it was launched in May 2024 with just a handful of drivers.

"My goal for the program was to do a hundred thousand miles in a year, and we've done a hundred and fifty thousand miles in what seven, eight months now, did not expect it to blow up as far just like I didn't, I didn't really expect it to have thirty-five dedicated volunteer drivers,” said Studyvin.

"We not only take people to doctors or to the grocery store, we sometimes we take people to the Senior Centers and sometimes even to work,” said C.A.R.S. program driver, Michael White.

Michael White, who lives in Neosho, started out as a passenger so he could get to his cancer treatments in Joplin.

Once they were over and he got his strength back, he started giving rides to others.

Drivers are reimbursed at the federal mileage rate of 67-cents per mile. The program operates in Jasper, Newton, Barton, and McDonald Counties.