211 offers an array of programs, seeks volunteer drivers

“I experienced months of recurrent severe illness to the point where I was housebound and bedridden for months at a time. If I hadn’t known about FISH, I wouldn’t have received the medical care I desperately needed.” These words, captured in an anonymous survey, are from a beneficiary of the Tompkins County FISH (Friends in Service Helping) volunteer transportation program, which provides free rides to and from medical appointments.

“This is a great service. I use FISH and they’re the best!” commented another person who receives free rides. Another said, “Fish has been very helpful and I appreciate it very much.”

Currently, 211 is seeking more volunteer drivers to expand the FISH program, which has never recovered after shrinking during the pandemic.

There are several ways that people can take advantage of Tompkins County 211 to secure transportation, and FISH is just one.

FISH program: Transportation for medical appointments

The Tompkins County FISH volunteer transportation program provides free rides to and from medical appointments.

It is recommended that anyone in need of a ride call 211 four days in advance to secure a ride, allowing for the program to efficiently coordinate volunteers.

Participants in this program can expect curb-to-curb transportation, ensuring a convenient and safe journey to their destinations.

There is a growing demand for these services due to an aging population and the economic issues of many people in the county. Nicole Roulstin, contact center manager for 211 Tompkins/Cortland, said that 211 would like to be able to offer more rides. The program currently provides about 50 rides per month, and there is a waiting list.

Right now there are about 12 drivers, Roulstin said, which is less than half of the program’s prepandemic volunteer force. The program used to be able to provide about 100 rides per month prior to the pandemic.

Many people need to see specialists in Syracuse, Rochester or Sayre, Pennsylvania, but only roughly half of the current volunteers are willing to drive outside of the county. “If a driver wants to stay in Tompkins County that’s fine, but we’re hoping some people coming on will be able to drive to some of those other places,” Roulstin said.

Roulstin said volunteers frequently express that participating in the program is very rewarding. 

Many of the volunteers are retired.

“People find that they’ve got more time on their hands when they’re retired, and it’s such a great way to spend time that’s not such a huge commitment,” Roulstin said. “If you only want to do one day a week or a couple days a month, that’s perfectly fine.”

She said that some volunteers are snow birds who move away for the winter months and that taking a hiatus from the program is not a problem.

The program reimburses mileage at a current rate of 70 cents per mile, which is meant to cover some vehicle maintenance as well as gas. The payment is not taxable.

FISH has partnered with Ithaca Carshare to expand volunteer opportunities further.

“If you’re not comfortable using your personal vehicle, you can use a Carshare vehicle at no cost,” Stephen Witkowski, transportation specialist for 2-1-1 Tompkins/Cortland, said.

GO Ithaca and Easy Access: Bus pass assistance and more

GO Ithaca, a partnership with TCAT, is a membership-based program that provides sustainable and affordable transportation solutions to improve people’s commutes and help them complete errands while supporting a healthy lifestyle, reducing vehicle pollution and decreasing traffic congestion in our community.

Tompkins County residents and people commuting to and from Tompkins County can join GO Ithaca through the link on the home page.

New members of GO Ithaca can get a range of benefits to make their commute cheaper, greener and more enjoyable such as:

• $50 credit for Ithaca Carshare
• $50 coupon for walking and biking gear
• Free 30-ride TCAT pass, then 50% off monthly top-ups
• Free access to the 511NY carpooling network
• Discounts on day and monthly parking passes
  

“The membership is entirely free, so no one has to pay for it,” Roulstin said. There are no eligibility requirements; anyone living in or commuting into Tompkins County for work can become a member.

Under the GO Ithaca Easy Access (EA) Income Eligible Program, people receive a 75% percent discount on bus passes after an initial free 30-ride TCAT pass.

Getting around Tompkins County without a personal vehicle requires planning, options and resources to fill gaps that occur in rural transportation systems, and GO Ithaca’s Easy Access program provides additional commuter benefit options for GO Ithaca members with a gross income at or below 150% of the U.S. Federal Poverty Guideline. For 2025, this is about $1,956 per month for one person, $2,644 per month for a household of two people, $3,331 per month for three people or $4,019 per month for four people.

Reach out to the team at support@goithaca.org if you need assistance with enrollment.

“A lot of clients that come in are homeless, so this provides a limited amount of support,” Roulstin said.

Many unhoused people need transportation to procure food and other necessities, as well essential services, said Roulstin. “Providing the bus passes, at least for the short-term until someone can get back on their feet, is very important,” she said.

Another tool that can come in handy for those looking to navigate the various modes of transport available in Tompkins County: the Tompkins Transportation Scout, available on mobile app or on the web, which allows users to create routes that work for them by aggregating as much transportation information as possible, all in one place. 

It can be accessed at my.tompkinsscout.org. 

“This trip-planning app was put together by Agile Mile, and it functions as a way for people to get around in Topkins, and it will map out trips for them on a much more granular level,” Witkowski said. 

In the app, users can accrue points that can be redeemed in a number categories, including vouchers for free emergency rides home, as well as discounts for local participating businesses.

2-1-1 will host Scout September from Sept. 7 to Sept. 28. The Tompkins County Department of Planning & Sustainability is sponsoring the event. 

Other services offered by 211 and ways to gain access

The 211 program in Tompkins County provides residents with many resources — including a ride-share app where people can coordinate carpools on their phones, a daily schedule of local free meals and food pantries and housing specialists who help prevent evictions — to highlight just a few services within the wide range of programs 211 provides.

One recently implemented program, the Medicaid 1115 Waiver, gives enhanced services to people on Medicaid, including rent assistance, utilities, transportation and home goods. “The demand has been crazy,” Roulstin said, adding that there is a waitlist for housing assistance, in particular, “because there’s not a lot of recourse for rent, and it’s a significant amount: six months of rent.”

For more information about 211, dial 2-1-1 on your phone in Tompkins and Cortland Counties (or 1-811-211-8667 toll-free from anywhere) 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to get help from a live person.

Get help by text message by texting your zip code to TXT211. Texting is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Email 211 at iandr@hsctc.org.

Receive help through an online chat Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 5 p.m. at https://messenger.providesupport.com/messenger/211tompkins.html.

Visit https://hsctc.org/211-services-directory for a searchable database of services.

Those seeking assistance are also welcome to stop by the 211 offices in downtown Ithaca at 118 N. Tioga St.