Health Care District Adds 3 Care-A-Vans

The Camarillo Health Care District has received three additional passenger vans through a grant from Caltrans.

The vans transport individuals with physical limitations that prevent them from using a fixed-route service.

The district’s Care-A-Van program provides transportation throughout Camarillo to shopping centers, the post office or even to meet a friend for lunch.

Riders can also be transported outside Camarillo to medical centers, hospitals and doctors’ offices throughout Ventura County and the western San Fernando Valley.

“The new vans are smoother-riding vehicles, so it makes them feel a lot more comfortable and secure,” said Nacho Gonzales, transportation coordinator. “The steps are shorter too.”

The Care-A-Van program provides more than 300 rides each week, totaling in excess of 17,000 rides a year.

“I don’t drive at this stage of the game,” said Madeline Zaborowski, 81. “And I don’t want to bother the neighbors. So I take the van to the beauty shop and to doctors’ appointments.”

Zaborowski, a van patron for the last four years, says she uses the service at least six times a month.

“There’s no other way when you don’t drive,” she said. “And I have to be independent yet, so I use the van.”

In-town service costs $2.50 each way; within Ventura County $3.50 each way and out-of-county transportation is $4.50 each way.

For more information about the Care-A-Van program, call the Camarillo Health Care District at 388-1952.