SERVE prepares to celebrate anniversary

Courtney Harrison, transportation director for SERVE Inc., poses with one of the TRAN vehicles.
Courtney Harrison, transportation director for SERVE Inc., poses with one of the TRAN vehicles.

SERVE Inc. invites the community to join in recognizing its transportation outreach's 40th anniversary.

"SERVE opened in 1972, and tranportation was implemented in 1976," Transportation Director Courtney Harrison said. "We had one bus, one driver and made about 50 trips per month. They transported mostly to the Dining Room in Fulton."

Today, 11 SERVE Tran buses make some 3,000 trips per month, she said, totaling about 22,000 miles monthly. Buses take passengers all over the county, even into neighboring counties.

"It's a very important service that's provided to the community," Harrison said. "We are Fulton and Callaway County's public transport agency."

After 40 years of serving the county, it's time to party.

"I just hope people can come out and help us celebrate," Harrison said. "We could not have gotten where we are without support from the community."

Rather than being a formal sit-down affair, she said the celebration will be a casual, meet-and-mingle kind of event. There will be door prizes, appetizers, and tea and coffee. Displays will recount the program's history. There will also be a booth allowing people to sign up to sponsor families and donate money to the Adopt-a-Family program.

"Several previous drivers will be there," Harrison added.

Also attending will be Patti Jo Peevey, who served as the transportation director between 1978 and 2013.

"She helped get Tran up and going and brought it forward to the modern day," Harrison said. "There have only been two transportation directors so far."

Also present will be representatives of the Missouri Department of Transportation, which funds SERVE along with the Senior Corps and the Callaway County United Way.

Harrison said passengers are also welcome to attend, and transportation will be provided.

"Just give us a call," she said.

The celebration takes place 4-6 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Callaway Electric Cooperative Community Room. 

For more information, or to arrange transportation, call 573-642-6388.