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Need a ride?

LIFT Grundy can help. We offer free rides for Grundy County residents. We can help with rides to doctor visits, work, grocery stores, and other important places.

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To ask for a ride, contact Kacie Chambers at (931) 315-1100. When you call, Kacie will ask where you need to go, when you need to be there, where you need to be picked up, and whether you need any extra help getting to your ride. She will then help figure out the best ride option for you. If she does not answer, please leave a message. We will get back to you as soon as we can during business hours.

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Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 9 AM - 5 PM. Please ask for your ride at least 48 hours ahead of time when you can.

How Our Rides Work

You do not need to choose between SETHRA and a volunteer driver. When you call, Kacie will ask where you need to go, when you need to be there, and where you want to be picked up. We can pick you up from the place you request, take you where you need to go, and bring you back home or to another stop.

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We will help choose the ride option that works best for your trip. Some rides are provided by SETHRA using a bus or other program vehicle. Other rides may be provided by a local volunteer driver using their own car. The option may be different depending on the trip and what is available.

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SETHRA

SETHRA provides public transportation using buses or other program vehicles. You may ride with other people, and there may be some waiting before or after your trip because SETHRA is serving more than one rider at a time.

 

SETHRA can be a good option for regular rides, longer trips, or people who need extra help getting around.

Volunteer Drivers

Volunteer drivers are local community members who use their own vehicles to give rides.

 

This is a newer program, so the number of available drivers is limited. We may not always be able to find a volunteer driver for every trip. Volunteer drivers may be a good fit for local or occasional trips.

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Ride Rules

We want every ride to be safe and respectful for riders and drivers. When you ride with LIFT Grundy, please follow these rules.

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  • Be ready at your pickup time.

  • Wear your seat belt.

  • Be kind and respectful to your driver and other riders.

  • Do not smoke in the vehicle.

  • Do not drink alcohol or use illegal drugs before or during your ride.

  • Do not bring guns, knives, or other weapons.

  • If you need to cancel, let us know as soon as you can.

  • Let us know when you schedule your ride if you need extra help getting to or from the vehicle.

  • Drivers cannot lift or carry riders.

  • Drivers cannot accept money, gifts, or tips.

 

If you miss rides, cancel at the last minute, or do not follow these rules, it may affect scheduling future rides.

  • Eligibility determinations are made holistically and not all factors must be present in every case.

     

    Baseline Requirements

    • Individual is a resident of the service area

    • Individual has an identified transportation barrier 

    • Transportation need is connected to health outcomes

     

    Additional Factors Considered in Eligibility Determination

    • Referral or connection through a partner organization, CHW, case manager, or program staff

    • Lack of reasonable alternative transportation at the time of request

    • Program capacity and transportation options that align with identified needs

  • To help us schedule a ride, we may ask for a few basic details, such as:

    • The date and time of the appointment or service

    • Pickup and drop-off locations

    • What the appointment or service is for (medical details are not required)

    • Any timing, distance, or mobility considerations needed to schedule the ride safely

    We aim to ask only what is necessary to coordinate transportation and do not require callers to share more information than they are comfortable providing.

  • Rides are currently available Monday through Friday between 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM. We do our best to help whenever we can, and we understand that urgent needs come up. To give us the most options, we ask that ride requests be made at least 48 hours in advance whenever possible, especially for long-distance trips (such as Murfreesboro or Chattanooga). Advance notice gives us the best chance to match a rider with an available volunteer driver or to coordinate scheduling with SETHRA drivers.

     

    If a request is made within 48 hours, we will still try to assist, but availability cannot be guaranteed.

  • We are able to provide both local and long-distance rides.

     

    Local rides are shorter trips, usually within the county or nearby, and typically take about an hour or less round trip. Long-distance rides are trips outside of the county or trips that take several hours to complete.

     

    Long-distance rides may require additional advance notice and are subject to availability. Examples include specialty care appointments in places like Murfreesboro or Chattanooga.

  • Generally Eligible Ride Purposes

    Primary (Highest Priority)

    • Medical appointments (primary care, specialty care, behavioral health)

    • Preventive services (screenings, labs, follow-ups)

    • Pharmacy pick-ups when no alternative exists

    Secondary (Time-Limited /Case-by-Case)

    • Employment-related rides when directly tied to health stability, such as:

      • Getting to a new job during an initial employment period

      • Maintaining employment that provides health insurance

    • Social service appointments that support health outcomes (e.g., benefits enrollment)

     

    Generally NOT Eligible Ride Purposes

    A ride is generally out of scope if it is primarily for convenience, recreation, or personal preference and is not connected to health, employment stability, or access to essential services.

    • Social or recreational activities (movies, concerts, sporting events, social visits)

    • Non-essential errands or shopping

    • Ongoing commuting without a transition or stabilization plan

    • Trips that duplicate another funded transportation benefit

  • LIFT Grundy’s transportation support is intended to provide short-term, goal-oriented assistance that helps address immediate transportation barriers while making responsible use of limited program resources.

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    Transportation support is:

    • Short-term and goal-oriented, based on the purpose of the ride and individual needs

    • Reviewed periodically by program staff to ensure support continues to align with program goals and available capacity

    • Subject to reasonable limits related to ride frequency, distance, or duration

     

    Limits are not applied automatically and may vary depending on individual circumstances, the type of transportation needed, and program capacity.

     

    For employment-related rides:

    • Approval is time-limited (e.g., 30–90 days)

    • Intended to support transition to a sustainable transportation option

     

    When ongoing transportation needs are identified, staff may work with individuals to discuss timelines, review points, or next steps rather than ending support abruptly.

  • In some circumstances, exceptions to these guidelines may be considered when doing so supports health, safety, or access to essential services.

    • Exceptions may be made in documented circumstances

    • Approved by designated staff (e.g., Program Manager)

    • Must include a brief justification

    • Do not establish precedent

     

    Exceptions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are intended to provide flexibility when standard guidelines do not fully address a specific situation.

  • LIFT Grundy’s transportation support is focused on access to healthcare, essential services, and short-term needs tied to health and stability. As a result, the program does not provide:

    • Emergency or on-demand transportation

    • Transportation outside of scheduled program hours

    • Rides primarily for social, recreational, or non-essential purposes

    • Ongoing commuting without a defined transition or stabilization plan

    • Transportation that duplicates another funded transportation benefit when that option is reasonably available

     

    Transportation support does not replace insurance-covered transportation or other existing transportation benefits. When a request falls outside the scope of this program, staff will communicate this clearly and, when possible, help identify other options or next steps.

    • While we make every effort to accommodate ride requests, availability depends on timing, capacity, and the type of transportation needed. If we are unable to schedule a ride, staff will communicate this as early as possible. When feasible, staff may help identify alternative options or next steps. Not all requests can be fulfilled, but we aim to be transparent and respectful in all communication.

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