FREEPORT– The Freeport Elders need a ride.

No, they don’t need people to volunteer to drive them around, what they do need is a new bus to replace the one that was recently forced out of service.

As a result, the seniors’ organization has had some of its trips curtailed for lack of transportation, especially to some destinations that are a distance from the group’s home base at the Freeport Community Center.

The old bus, a 1992 Ford mini-bus that held 14 passengers plus a driver, which the group obtained as a used vehicle on June 5, 1999, was taken out of service on July 19 with 137,346 miles on the odometer, according to association member Pat Pooters. Pooters said the vehicle was taken in for inspection and it failed. Among its problems: holes in floor on the passenger side by the door, the air conditioner unit was rotted out, missing pieces from the vehicle’s frame, bad shock absorbers, leaking oil seals and most seriously, the transmission oil seal was leaking into the catalytic converter, which is a fire hazard.

“It was old and it died,” Pooters said, adding that the association sold the bus for parts for $700.

Carol Piecuch, the president of the Freeport Elders Association, said it wasn’t possible to fix the bus, leaving the group temporarily without transportation.

But the bus’ demise didn’t come without some warning. Piecuch said the group has known for some time that they were going to need a new bus.

“(The old bus) wasn’t dependable at the end,” she said.

So, the association has been working for some months to get some new wheels.

“We’re raising money for a new bus,” she said.

The group is looking at a Ford new mini-bus similar to the one it is replacing, and the group already knows how much they need to raise to buy it –$65,000, according to Piecuch.

A used bus isn’t in the plans this time, either.

“We want new,” Piecuch said. “It’s (the new bus) a little more up-to-date,” she said. “It hasn’t got such steep steps to climb into. It’s made more for older people.”

So far, members have raised about $34,000 toward the new bus. Piecuch said the group has had help from the Rotary Club, local businesses, local clam diggers who dug clams and donated the proceeds from the sale of the shellfish to the club, proceeds from a Valentine’s Day chocolate- and cheese-tasting event and private individuals.

While the group is waiting to get the money for its new bus, it has had to work out transportation for its outings, often relying on members for rides.

“We carpool to places closer to home,” Piecuch said.

Having a bus is vital to the group, which generally has a full schedule of trips, something that has been curbed due to the recent transportation issues.

“It’s very important (to have a bus),” Piecuch said. “Because we go out to eat, we go shopping, and we like to go out to concerts and museums and stuff, but we haven’t (been going as many places) because we couldn’t go too far.”

The Freeport Elders Association is raising money to purchase a bus similar to this Ford F-450. The new vehicle will replace the 13-year-old bus that was recently taken out of service due to a multitude of problems.   Anyone interested in helping the Freeport Elders Association with the purchase of their new bus can send donations to: Freeport Elders Association, 53 Depot St., Freeport, Maine 04032.A closer look