Beaches Council on Aging marks 50 years, highlights free rides for seniors

Beaches Council on Aging received a proclamation from the mayor recognizing its 50th anniversary and described growing demand for its free senior transportation service. Laurie Anderson, executive director of Beaches Council on Aging, told the Jacksonville Beach City Council the nonprofit operates five vehicles — four wheelchair-accessible — and provides free door-to-door rides for adults 62 and older and persons with disabilities. She said the organization transported dialysis patients, expanded Saturday service, and that ridership rose about 26 percent last year and about 28 percent so far this year. The update matters because the nonprofit provides mobility for seniors who no longer drive and helps connect them to medical care, shopping and social activities. Anderson said the agency now serves users from Mayport to Ponte Vedra Beach and to the Mayo Clinic in Cypress Village. Council members and the mayor presented a proclamation designating Sept. 4, 2025, as Beaches Council on Aging Appreciation Day. The proclamation, read aloud on the dais, credited the group with increasing service and supporting seniors and people with disabilities across the beaches area. Anderson described operational details: rides are free though a $5 donation is requested; callers should schedule three days ahead; the service expanded to Saturdays to accommodate dialysis riders; and drivers are mostly retired local volunteers. She also said the organization partners with Possibilities Plus for door-to-door service for riders who can maneuver their own mobility devices. Board member Randy Hayes and others on the dais thanked the group for its service and encouraged community members to attend the nonprofit’s 50th anniversary event. The mayor read the proclamation naming the September date and urged residents to join the celebration. No formal council action was required on the presentation or proclamation. The council publicly recognized the organization and encouraged awareness and community support.