The Salvation Army Receives 120 Granted Passes from the IndyGo Foundation

INDIANAPOLIS (January 12, 2023) – The Salvation Army Fountain Square Corps Community Center, located just south of downtown Indianapolis at 1337 S. Shelby Street, has received a bus pass grant from the IndyGo Foundation. A total of 60 1-day passes and 60 31-day passes were granted from the IndyGo Foundation's Mobility Access Fund.

The IndyGo Foundation helps our central Indiana community thrive by connecting people through accessible, equitable, and inclusive mobility solutions. In partnership with IndyGo and the PNC Foundation, the IndyGo Foundation awarded bus pass grants to 79 local nonprofit organizations, including The Salvation Army, on January 10, 2023. Including the 120 passes granted to The Salvation Army, the IndyGo Foundation announced the distribution of 27,308 bus passes to Marion County nonprofits, totaling more than 111,000 days of free transportation.

The Salvation Army Fountain Square Corps Community Center works closely with local families and individuals facing a variety of barriers on the road to self-sufficiency. Transportation is a common barrier that can prevent Salvation Army clients from accessing life-changing employment, healthcare, and educational opportunities. By removing that barrier with IndyGo bus passes, The Salvation Army is able to help these clients move closer to stability and financial independence.

"This grant is significant for the Fountain Square area," said Major Michael Thomas, corps officer for The Salvation Army Fountain Square. "We have many people living in the margins. Many are limited due to transportation needs. Whether it's for a doctor appointment, a job interview, picking up a prescription, or even getting groceries, this grant will help meet a great need for those who are struggling with transportation issues."

According to the Indianapolis Public Transportation Foundation the percentage of Marion County households without vehicles increased significantly from 7.6% in 2007 to 9.1% in 2019. With inflation and high gas prices, car ownership is out of reach for many central Indiana families.

"Bus passes are one of the greatest needs of nonprofit organizations as they are an easy way to provide clients with immediate assistance," said IndyGo Foundation Executive Director Emily Meaux. "The bus pass grants have become a hallmark of the IndyGo Foundation and we are thrilled to expand the program this year to serve more in our community."

Sharon Mack, the Case Manager at The Salvation Army Fountain Square, works directly with clients facing a transportation barrier. The grant is already providing her with the tools necessary to help those with immediate needs.

"At least one third of the people we talk with use public transportation or are struggling with having reliable transportation," Mack shared. "Just this week we helped a recently homeless individual who was sleeping in her car, which didn't have any gas, by providing a bus pass to a shelter. One of the shelters happened to have an opening, but she had to get there by check-in time. Without the bus pass, she would not have been able to make it and would have still been sleeping in her car."

To learn more about The Salvation Army Fountain Square Corps Community Center, please visit SAFountainSquare.org. For more information about the IndyGo Foundation, visit IndyGo.net/Foundation.