Total of 2018: COAST drivers log 11 percent more miles

COAST Transportation drivers in 2018 logged an 11 percent increase in miles compared to 2017. They totaled 550,000 miles compared to 469,555 miles driven in 2017.

"It's been a crazy busy year, but that just shows what a huge need we have in this area," said Paige Collins, executive director of the Council on Aging and Human Services.

COAST drivers marked the increase despite having an 11 percent decrease in funds.

They also had a 14 percent increase in the number of individuals served.

The 2017 year had been considered a record-breaking year.

COAST has 15 paid staff drivers, 41 volunteer drivers and 15 vehicles to serve nine separate counties.

One driver covered 2,750 miles in October, while another drove more than 2,400 miles in May.

The council also had a 10 percent increase in senior meals in Whitman County with 13,384 meals provided. For the first 11 months of 2018, 1,456 meal deliveries were made. Total number of meals was 2,578. The meals were made at Whitman Hospital or Bishop Place Senior Living in Pullman.

COAST lost funding from the Idaho Department of Transportation, which accounted for most of the 11 percent decrease in funding.

Most of the funding for COA Human Services and COAST Transportation are from either the Washington Department of Transportation or Special Mobility Services (SMS), which is a medicaid broker. They are also working with the Disabilities Action Center in Idaho. Private donations were way down this year, though they have received several grants as well.