The nonprofit behind three Jacksonville Beach senior housing communities has given $25,000 to secure the long-term future of Dial-a-Ride, the free transportation program that hundreds of Beaches-area seniors and disabled adults depend on for rides to doctors, grocery stores and social outings.

Elderly Housing Management Corporation's board of directors approved the contribution to the Beaches Council on Aging Endowment Fund, according to the Beach Gazette. EHMC said the gift recognizes the role Dial-a-Ride plays for residents of its properties and for older adults across the Beaches area who rely on transportation to remain independent.

"This generous investment from Elderly Housing Management Corporation strengthens the future of Dial-A-Ride, helping ensure we can continue connecting seniors to medical appointments, grocery stores, social activities, and other essential destinations," Lori Anderson, executive director of Beaches Council on Aging, said in the announcement.

EHMC is a 501(c)(3) management company that operates Pablo Towers, Pablo Suites and Pablo Hamlet, all in Jacksonville Beach. Pablo Towers, a 213-unit high-rise at 115 South Third St., was conceived in 1973 by the Beaches Ministerial Alliance, a collaboration of 19 local churches. Pablo Hamlet, at 1600 Shetter Ave., has offered affordable senior housing since 2002 and lists scheduled Dial-a-Ride transport as a resident amenity.

The endowment fund was created to provide ongoing financial support so Dial-a-Ride can continue serving riders in the years ahead. The program has offered free, door-to-door transportation for adults 62 and older and people with disabilities across the Beaches since 1975, covering a service area from Mayport to Ponte Vedra Beach.

Demand has climbed sharply.

Average monthly one-way trips rose from 535 in 2022 to 937 in 2024, and reached 1,073 per month as of mid-2025, according to Jacksonville.com. The number of individual riders grew from 203 in 2022 to 280 in 2024.

The EHMC gift follows other recent community investments in the program. In July 2025, Baptist Health donated $115,000 to purchase a new wheelchair-accessible van for the fleet. In February 2026, Mayport Brewing Company ran a month-long fundraiser donating $3 from each of five specialty cocktails sold to Dial-a-Ride.

Anderson told the Ponte Vedra Recorder in February 2026, in connection with that Mayport Brewing partnership, that "transportation is often the difference between someone staying independent or feeling isolated."

Residents who want to learn more about Dial-a-Ride or the endowment fund can contact Beaches Council on Aging at (904) 246-1477 or visit beachescoa.org.