SEGMENT #1: Charleston Area Senior Citizens & Berkeley Seniors Inc.
GUEST: Donna Cook, Executive Director
ISSUE: Senior Citizen Issues
Inflation is a challenge for everyone, but more so with those on a fixed income. The Charleston Area Senior Citizens & Berkeley Seniors Inc. implement Meals on Wheels in those two counties. Donna Cook, the organization’s Executive Director shared the challenges the Means on Wheels program is facing. Cook explained the importance of the program to area seniors, both in nutrition and the companionship those senior receive through daily visits. Over 300 seniors are currently on a waiting list to receive Meals on Wheels. Additionally, the organization has a shortage of volunteers to deliver the food. Cook provided information on how seniors can get on the wait list, how individuals can volunteer and shared details on their upcoming fundraising Oyster Roast.
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SEGMENT #2: Lowcountry Rapid Transit
GUEST: Mike Seekings, Chairman, CARTA
ISSUE: Traffic/Transportation
One thing everyone in the Lowcountry can agree on is that traffic is bad. As the area continues to grow, solutions are needed to deal with that growth. Lowcountry Rapid Transit is a project to assist with congestion and provide traffic relief. CARTA Chairman Mike Seekings explained that Lowcountry Rapid Transit is not a bullet train, but an individual corridor being created from Exchange Park in Ladson to the hospital district in downtown Charleston – a 21.3 mile route. The Chairman provided background on the project, stressing that it was happening, as the funding is already in place. He discussed how Lowcountry Rapid Transit would work, the convenience it would provide Charleston County residents, how it may expand after the initial line opens in 2030 and how citizens can provide impact and learn more about the project.