Knights of care fills gap in senior transportation

In Tracy and Lodi, California, over 20,000 seniors struggle with limited bus services that can't get them where they need to go. Enter Knights of Care, a local non-profit founded by Scott Sorensen. Dedicated to senior and veteran transportation, Knights of Care offers free rides for appointments, errands, and even grocery shopping.

Connecting the community

For Mary-Lou Burton of Lodi, Knights of Care was a lifesaver. Her car broke down, leaving her stranded. 'The bus just pulls up and if they don't see you standing out there or sitting out there, they go on,' she explained. A simple phone call to Sorensen changed everything.

Now, Sorensen and his team are helping about ten people per week, from doctor's visits to haircuts. They've even delivered groceries for a senior in need. 'Those are the kind of things where if it wasn't for me, how is she feeding her cat? How's she getting her own groceries?' Sorensen said.

But despite their dedication, Knights of Care faces a major hurdle. The California Department of Justice is holding up funding from the county, citing a requirement that the non-profit be registered with the state. This is proving costly, with gas prices rising. 'Donations from Raley's and other businesses are keeping us afloat, but we need the word to get out so we can help more people,' Sorensen emphasized.

For Sorensen, serving seniors is deeply personal. 'The seniors tend to get forgotten about, but they've contributed so much,' he shared. 'I'm lucky – I get to hear the stories and all that they've done.'

With a growing fleet, Knights of Care aims to expand its services to the homeless, disaster survivors, and first responders. Currently available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, Sorensen is eager to connect with more of the community in need.