Ride to Work Ministry spreads to Anderson

The Oconee County-based program that provides rides for workers without transportation is spreading to Anderson.  Steve Finger and Ron Kaufman have announced that Anderson’s S. Main Chapel and Mercy Center has started a Ride to Work program.  Oconee County’s transportation ministry last month was providing rides to as many as 14 workers, most of whom work in good jobs at local manufacturing companies.  Depending on route structure and other factors, the average cost to subsidize a rider with a 40-hour work week is about $500 dollars a month.  Increased ridership has depleted reserves, so Ride to Work seeks donation from the public.  They can be sent to Ride to Work, POB 1345, Seneca, SC  29279 or you may donate through the website rtwministry.org.  The program work is done by volunteers.  They use UBER and local taxi services to provide rides at a cost of about $30 a day.  Riders are charged $5 dollars.  Most riders are channeled to Ride to Work from Our Daily Rest, South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation, and local temp and employment agencies.  Since 2017, Ride to Work has provided nine thousand rides for 200 riders.  The ministry reports a 50% graduation rate—riders who kept their jobs and found their own ways to work.