A remarkable donation of $22,000 has been made to the Lanark Transportation Association (LTA), with the generous donor wishing to remain anonymous. The donation will be used to assist Lanark County residents with the cost of transportation through the LTA for any dialysis related needs.

According to the Ontario Renal Network, more than 11,000 Ontarians receive dialysis care – a life-saving process that removes excess water, toxins and solutes from the blood because the kidney no longer functions as it used to. This treatment is typically applied three times a week. For residents of Lanark, that often means many trips to Ottawa and back. Securing transportation to the city can be difficult and expensive, especially for those with limited access to a vehicle. This is where the LTA can step in to help, connecting patients with the care they need. Whether one lives in Perth, Mississippi Mills, Tay Valley, or anywhere else in Lanark County, the LTA will get you there.

“Lanark Transportation Association is a grassroots, not-for-profit association that connects people with life-enhancing community supports and services; we are beyond grateful to receive such generous support from our community and patrons to continue delivering our service,” says Marilyn Bird, the executive director of Lanark Transportation Association.

“It’s community supporting community. This donation will be felt by those who need it the most.”

For more information, please contact the LTA office via phone: 613-264-8256

To book a ride, visit https://lanarktransportation.com/book-a-ride/ 

Lanark Transportation’s popular Ride the LT program has now officially expanded to Mississippi Mills.

The community bus service launched in the community back in August, but the Municipality and Lanark Transportation recently cut the ribbon to celebrate the partnership. (Pictured, above from left: Tiffany MacLaren, Mississippi Mills Manager of Community and Economic Development; Lanark Transportation Board Chair Mary Smiley; Mississippi Mills Mayor and Lanark Transportation Board member, Christa Lowry; Lanark Transportation Executive Director Marilyn Bird.)

Ride the LT offers weekly $2 trips every Thursday from anywhere in Mississippi Mills, to either Almonte (first and third Thursday of each month) or Carleton Place (second and fourth Thursday of the month). This flexible service gives you the choice of getting picked up or dropped off at one of the fixed locations throughout the community or wherever you like! You can even arrange for additional stops along the route if you have a mobility issue.

“Lanark Transportation’s mandate is to connect people with life-enhancing community supports and services,” explained Marilyn Bird, Executive Director of Lanark Transportation. “The expansion of our Ride the LT program to Mississippi Mills is a natural progression to ensure we continue to provide accessible, caring and personal transportation to all residents of Lanark County.”

Taking advantage of the program is easy! Book your ride by calling Lanark Transportation at their toll-free number – 1-877-445-5777 – by Wednesday at 10 a.m. each week. Then, choose your outing: two stops (approximately 45 minutes each) or one stop (approximately 90 minutes). Routes will return to the pickup/drop-off location, the Almonte Branch of the Mississippi Mills Public Library, with home drop-offs taking place afterward.

“I am very pleased to see this program expand to our community and I am hopeful it will address the barriers to transportation and isolation that many residents face,” stated Mayor Christa Lowry. “Community safety and well-being is extremely important to this Council and reliable transportation services like Ride the LT help us implement actions.   Mississippi Mills is fortunate to count on Lanark Transportation as a partner in providing such a vital resource.”

“It is so rewarding to sit on the Lanark Transportation Association Board and to work with Marilyn, Board Chair Mary Smiley and board members to provide solutions like Ride the LT to people across the county,” Lowry added.

Lanark Transportation is a not-for-profit association providing transportation to families, seniors and youth living in Lanark County and Smiths Falls. The Ride the LT program is also in operation in Carleton Place, Lanark and Perth. For more information on their programs and services, visit https://lanarktransportation.com.

To learn more about the Mississippi Mills Ride the LT program, visit www.mississippimills.ca/RideTheLT.