For Immediate Release                             Media Contact: Collin Nash or Sid Nathan

  May 26, 2010                                                             (516) 869-7794

Hofstra University Survey Gives North Hempstead’s Grocery Shopping Initiative High Marks

North Hempstead, NY--As the nation recognizes seniors during the month of May, Older Americans Month, Supervisor Jon Kaiman and the North Hempstead Town Board took the opportunity to announce that a survey conducted by a major university of the Town’s pilot transportation program for the elderly indicate a dire need for the service.

The glowing success of the four-month pilot program, which ended in mid-February, prompted the town to expand the initiative to include the entire town as well as add a local Pathmark with a pharmacy to the list of designated shopping destinations.

Following in the wake of the introduction of the grocery shopping program, an initiative conducted under the auspices of North Hempstead’s aging in place program, Project Independence, the town launched a companion program designed to transport seniors to non-emergency medical visits.

“I am extremely honored to be in a position to help implement a program that serves a segment of our town whose contributions have helped shaped North Hempstead’s nationally recognized enviable quality of life,” said Supervisor Jon Kaiman. “We plan to continue refining the menu of services as we pursue our goal of making Project Independence a national model.”

The survey the Taxi Shopping Pilot Program was conducted by the Department of Applied Social Research and Policy Analysis at Hofstra University.

Seventy three residents in four communities, Great Neck, New Hyde Park, Port Washington and Westbury used the service at least once during the pilot period.

Forty seven participants in the pilot were surveyed and their feedback on several aspects of the program and their overall experience analyzed to determine its effectiveness.

The survey participants said they were particularly impressed with four aspects of the program: ease of making an appointment, the amount of time allowed for shopping, the friendliness of the driver and the driver’s accommodation of the rider’s individual needs.

Prior to the introduction of the shopping program, conducted in partnership with two local taxicab companies, 43 percent of the respondents said they relied on family, friends or a neighbor to for shopping trips.

Almost half of the more than 70 respondents used the service five or more times and practically all said they would recommend the program

For more information about the grocery shopping program and the non-emergency medical visit transportation program, please call 311.