Gloucester Health Department
Karin Carroll, Public Health Director
3 Pond Road
Gloucester, MA 01930

For Immediate Release

Monday, Nov. 4, 2019

Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: kelsey@jgpr.net

Gloucester Health Department Launches Seniors on the GO Program to Support Healthy Living

GLOUCESTER — Public Health Director Karin Carroll is pleased to announce that the Gloucester Health Department launched a new program this month to help seniors in the city access healthy food and exercise opportunities.

Cape Ann Seniors on the GO started officially in the City of Gloucester on Tuesday, Oct. 1, and is open to residents of Gloucester Housing Authority’s Clark, Lincoln, McPherson, Poplar and Sheedy neighborhoods. The initiative was made possible by a $20,000 Addison Gilbert and Beverly Hospital Community Collaborative grant and an approximately $84,500 grant from the Massachusetts Community Compact Initiative. The two grants are also funding similar programs in Essex, Rockport and Manchester-by-the-Sea.

The Seniors on the GO program provides seniors with the opportunity to reserve seats on a 16 passenger, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant bus operated by Cape Ann Transit Authority. The bus will bring riders to locations such as the Open Door Food Pantry, Cape Ann Farmers Market, grocery stores and the Rose Baker Senior Center to ensure seniors have access to healthy food options. The program will also transport riders to various locations for fitness opportunities, such as the Gloucester Boulevard for walking or a bowling alley. Activities and the bus schedule will fluctuate between seasons to accommodate for weather.

The Cape Ann Seniors on the GO initiative in Gloucester grew out of the Health Department’s partnership with Cape Ann Mass in Motion. The Gloucester Health Department serves as a host agent for the Mass in Motion Municipal Wellness and Leadership Initiative, a movement to lower the risk of chronic disease by supporting equitable food access and active living opportunities in cities and towns throughout Massachusetts.

“Having access to fresh food and regular exercise is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to be launching a program that will provide a crucial link to those opportunities,” Carroll said. “We’re incredibly thankful for the support of Addison Gilbert and Beverly Hospital Community Collaborative and the Massachusetts Community Compact Initiative, and we encourage seniors to reach out and take advantage of this program.”

Seniors looking to learn about the Seniors on the Go program schedule or reserve a free seat can do so by calling the Cape Ann Transit Authority at 978-283-7916. Riders are limited to two bags on the bus.

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