JewelRide Awarded MCC Development Block Grant to Transport Citizens to Receive COVID-19 Vaccine
JewelRide, a client of the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, has been awarded Madison County’s Community Development COVID-19 Block Grant to provide transportation to the Madison County community to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Removing barriers, such as transportation issues, increases access for people to get the COVID-19 vaccine to help protect themselves, their families, and the community,” said Toni Corona, director of public health for Madison County Health Department. “Without services such as this, many people would go without vaccine protection just because of lack of opportunity to get to a clinic site.”
JewelRide provides access to healthcare for those who do not have transportation and/or cannot transport themselves. They help people to better health through inspired transportation and will play a key role in ending the COVID-19 pandemic by providing access to the vaccine to the Metro East.
“We are thrilled to be part of the ecosystem working tirelessly to address COVID-19 vaccine access in Madison County” Jewel Ride owner Tapiwa Mupereki said. “Through the provision of free rides to members of the public, we have a pacesetter opportunity to achieve close to, if not 100 % COVID-19 vaccination rate in our community. Healthcare transportation remains a challenge across the world. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Madison County to precisely address this hurdle for a pandemic like no other in human history. We are encouraging community members to reach out by phone or email to schedule their rides. It's that simple and it’s free!”
JewelRide launched in October 2019. It offers reliable and affordable non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) to individuals, families and communities throughout the Metro East.
It also offers transportation to medical and hospital appointments, dialysis visits, assisted living transfers, pharmacy/drugstore prescription pick-up, and errands. In addition to those services, they also do senior transportation and tailor-made transportation needs.
Services extend to villages, towns, and cities in all Metro East counties such as Madison, St. Clair, and Jersey, as well as transporting those who have healthcare travel needs to the greater St. Louis metro area.
If you would like to partner with JewelRide and/or use its services, call 618-250-4771 or email info@jewelride.com.
For more information, visit jewelride.com or Facebook at JewelRide.
The Illinois SBDC for the Metro East assists start-up ventures like JewelRide, as well as existing businesses headquartered in the nine-county region of Calhoun, Jersey, Madison, Bond, Clinton, St. Clair, Washington, Monroe and Randolph. It is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and SIUE as a service to Illinois small businesses.
By aiding entrepreneurs and companies in defining their path to success, the SBDC network positively impacts the Metro East by strengthening the business community, creating and retaining new jobs and encouraging new investment. It enhances the region’s economic interests by providing one-stop assistance to individuals by means of counseling, training, research and advocacy for new ventures and existing small businesses. When appropriate, the SBDC strives to affiliate its ties to the region to support the goals and objectives of both the SIUE School of Business and the University at large.
To learn about the SBDC, contact the IL SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE at 618-650-2929.
Photo: JewelRide owner Tapiwa Mupereki and his wife, Rutendo (left).
