June 23rd 2008

Sometimes, do you wonder if change is really possible?

Be inspired as you read this article by Rev. Ken Roth of Sharon United Methodist Church. Ken saw a problem with bus transportation for the underprivileged in our community. He brought it to Mecklenburg Ministries who alerted CATS, and now new bus tickets are being printed that solves the problem!

Is there an issue where you think Mecklenburg Ministries can help make a needed change in the community? We hope you will bring it to Meck Min so we can work to address it together.

Sharon United Methodist Church and many other congregations and non-profits work to provide assistance to meet the needs of the underprivileged in our community. One way we have typically helped is by providing those individuals with bus passes which allows them access to work, interviews, medical appoints or just to get their basic needs met.

With the construction of the LYNX light rail system, CATS began a Proof-of-Payment system for the line. As a part of that process CATS created new weekly passes that started and ended on a specific date rather than starting on the first day of use as the previous bus passes had done. With the introduction of these passes, our congregation immediately began encountering issues. When people in need of bus passes arrived mid-week, half the time on the passes we could provide them had already expired. This created a financial burden on non-profits and did not satisfy the needs of the individuals we were serving.

I called Mecklenburg Ministries to advise them of this problem and asked if other houses of faith were having the same difficulty. Maria Hanlin, Executive Director of Mecklenburg Ministries, convened a meeting to which I was invited along with Olaf Kinard from CATS.

We met for approximately an hour getting to know each other and understanding the complex transportation issues. Mr. Kinard listened to the concern, understood the predicament, and responded by saying he could "fix" the problem for us, even though it would involve printing a new kind of ticket and training CATS bus drivers in their use. But yes, CATS wanted to respond to the issue and would provide the kind of pass that was being requested.

I am grateful to the city and to Mecklenburg Ministries. I understand the new passes are being printed at this very moment and that churches and non-profits who wish to purchase open-ended week-long bus passes will be notified when they are available.

What a wonderful feeling to have CATS respond so quickly to a need, and what wonderful work Mecklenburg Ministries provided in getting the right persons together at the right time.

There are times when everything works well. We so often hear only of the complaints. I want to share this very positive experience and offer thanks to those who responded so quickly to a need.

Ken Roth, Senior Pastor

Sharon United Methodist Church