Senior citizens out and about, enjoying cultural and social opportunities in Teller County — it’s a sign of the times these days.

In the effort to reduce isolation and inspire that get-up-and-go mentality, Teller Senior Coalition provides transportation for clients to restaurants and, recently, to Mueller State Park and Cripple Creek Heritage Center.

A $25,000 grant from the Nextfifty Initiative helps fund the outings. “The initiative is one of the few nonprofits that focuses on seniors,” said Kathy Lowry, the coalition’s chief executive officer. “We’ve been fortunate.”

A Colorado-based private foundation, Nextfifty Initiative focuses on education while supporting innovations for aging for present and future generations.

Last year, the initiative provided $8,500 for expenses when the organization moved from Woodland Park to Divide, to the former offices of the Community Partnership Family Resource Center (the partnership moved to a free-standing building in Gold Hill Square South in Woodland Park).

For the coalition, the grant as well increases funding for home-delivered meals, case management, respite care, homemaking/handyman services and reassurance calls for clients who live alone.

The coalition was one of five organizations to share $120,642 of Nextfifty grants. “Our flexible support grant

opportunity was created to make it easier for organizations to build their capacity, apply funds where they’re needed most,” said Chandra Matthews, director of programs for the initiative.

However, the transportation piece is a key component of the coalition’s drive to promote the social aspect of aging. A recent study by Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments identified a lack of transportation opportunities for residents in Teller, El Paso and Park counties.

“There is no public transportation up here at all,” Lowry said. “We are trying to fill that gap.”

To help fund new routes launched by the coalition, the Colorado Department of Transportation contributed $60,000 to cover expenses for a driver, a dispatcher, fuel, vehicle maintenance and some equipment. “We are also funded to get an additional vehicle for these routes,” Lowry said.

The routes are: Lake George, north Florissant to Woodland Park; North Divide to Woodland Park; Cascade, Chipita Park to Woodland Park; South Florissant, Guffey to Woodland Park; and Victor, Cripple Creek and part of Teller 1 to Woodland Park.

In a time of “quiet quitting” when employers are having trouble finding help, the coalition not among them. “Our best source of hiring people is with ads in The (Pikes Peak) Courier,” Lowry said. “People who live up here want to work up here.”

The bus runs from Monday through Friday and is available by reservation to take clients for medical appointments, shopping and errands, in addition to the scheduled outings. A fifth route, on Fridays, stops at homes in Elk

Valley, Rainbow Valley, Gillette Heights, Victor, Cripple Creek, Creek Creek Mountain Estates, Lost Burro, Sherwood Forest for trips to Woodland Park.

For reservations for any route, call 719-6870256.