Seniors in the Minoa, Bridgeport and Kirkville areas will have on-call bus service beginning this week.

Seven area churches have gotten grants and fund-raised to buy the bus, which will replace CENTRO's Call-a-Bus service, being phased out in March.
Rev. Roosevelt Baums, of Minoa First Methodist, says the specialized, curb-to-curb bus service will operate Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., on an on-call basis, to transport seniors and disabled residents in the area to appointments, grocery shopping and to the senior adult ministry program at the First United Methodist Church in Minoa.

The bus will seat 14 people and is wheelchair accessible, though those using manual wheelchairs must be accompanied by their own aide. A $5 donation is requested for each trip. Reservations for the service must be made one week in advance by calling 315-454-2740.