A Bus Ride Away: How Connected Services Helped a Family Through Difficult Circumstances
On a Monday morning, an urgent call came into HAPCAP. A neighbor’s voice, heavy with worry, explained that their family had run out of food—completely. Over the weekend, they had gone without anything to eat. They had no money, no vehicle, and no one who could give them a ride.
Reaching out for help isn’t always easy, but that call was the first step. The caller took action to change her family's circumstances.
Ben Ziff, HAPCAP’s Mobility Management Coordinator, listened carefully and immediately thought of the SE Ohio Foodbank's network of food pantries throughout the region. He told them about one nearby, located along an Athens Public Transit route. However, the caller’s relief quickly turned to frustration. They explained that they simply couldn’t afford the bus fare to get there.
“For many, two dollars for a round-trip bus ride seems like nothing,” Ziff said. “However to others, that cost is insurmountable. Just another barrier to accessing services.”
That’s when Ziff shared something that changed everything: Athens Public Transit was currently fare-free, thanks to a partnership with AmeriHealth Caritas Ohio. Together, they planned a route that would bring the family straight to the pantry that same day. What once felt like an impossible barrier suddenly opened into a clear path forward.
“To say that the free fare initiative saved this family from additional hardship is not an overstatement,” Ziff reflected. “Without it, they would have continued to go hungry.”
Ziff didn’t stop there. He also helped the neighbor learn how to use the bus to connect to The HAPCAP for Health Market, another program that provides food, workforce training, and resource navigation. The caller said they plan to use the Market in the future, having gained not only immediate relief but also the knowledge to navigate ongoing support.
Food and health are deeply connected—access to nutritious food is a cornerstone of community well-being.
“The services provided by our organization are nothing short of life-saving,” Ziff shared. “And that’s coming from a former paramedic.”
A transportation initiative—created through collaboration—became the link that allowed a family to access emergency food when they needed it most.
“This is what Community Action looks like,” said Valerie Stillson, HAPCAP’s Public Relations Coordinator. “Transportation, food, housing, energy assistance—they all work together in tandem. Each piece is important on its own, but when stitched together, they can create real change for our neighbors.”
And it all started with something as simple—and as powerful—as a free bus ride.