Garber Transportation: A reliable, personal service that is more than just a ride
By Laura Gorke • Associate Director of Client Services
JFCS’ Jacob Garber Transportation has been providing rides to individuals for over 25 years – but getting a person from Point A to Point B does not tell the whole story. With a team of dedicated, long-standing staff and volunteer drivers, our reliable, high-quality service, plays a significant role in reducing social isolation and building connections within the community. Read more below to learn how Garber is here for you:
What type of rides does Garber provide?
Any types – medical, social, errands, etc. We drive individuals to one-time appointments or gatherings, and/or recurring ones. For example, a client can use our service to go to their annual physical, or to weekly medical treatments like radiation or chemotherapy. Clients can use Garber to go to a friend’s birthday lunch, or a weekly bridge game. Whether it is a ride to the grocery store, participating in a JFCS volunteer event, or anything in between, Garber has you covered.
Do you need to be a senior to use Garber Transportation?
No! Our service is designed for ambulatory adults ages 18+ traveling within our defined service area in Hennepin County.
How is this different from Uber or a cab service?
JFCS is a non-profit organization. We are client-oriented and strive to ensure all our clients feel safe, comfortable and cared about with every ride. We provide door-to-door service. We call each client the day before their scheduled ride and confirm the time, color of the vehicle, and name of their driver for the following day. A key strength of our program lies in the dedication and experience of our staff and drivers. Most of our team have worked for JFCS for many years and this long-term commitment translates into reliable, consistent service that our clients can depend on. Our drivers provide both safety and a familiar face to our clients.
How much does it cost?
We drive people from all income levels and there is no upper or lower limit. Cost is determined on a sliding-fee scale based on annual household income and household size. We receive public and private funding to help offset the costs of the program.
How do I schedule a ride?
Rides are available from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays and office closure. Reservations are made by calling Garber between 9 a.m. through 12 p.m. Monday through Friday. For requests received after 12 p.m., we will return your call the morning of the next business day. We just need to hear from clients at least one business day (24 hours) in advance. This gives us time to create a schedule to ensure everyone will get to where they need to be on time.
How do I get started?
Just call JFCS! Interested individuals seeking more information can call JFCS at 952-546-0616, email intake@jfcsmpls.org or submit an online inquiry via our website. An intake counselor will follow up to discuss program details, get questions answered, and complete intake paperwork over the phone. As soon as enrollment is complete, you can schedule your first ride.
What if I am interested in becoming a volunteer driver? How can I get involved? We would love to welcome you to our volunteer team! Please reach out to JFCS Community and Volunteer Engagement Manager, Dana Shapiro, at 952-417-2112 or dshapiro@jfcsmpls.org, or complete a Volunteering Application via our website.