ECAT helps homeless veterans

Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT), the local public transportation system, provides fixed-route service to hundreds of thousands of riders every year. ECAT’s service to the community, however, does not end with providing transportation. ECAT participates in multiple community service projects throughout the year, including two taking place this week: Homeless Veterans Stand Down and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

On Friday, October 25, ECAT provided free transportation to homeless veterans to and from the Stand Down at the Joint Ambulatory Care Center. This event, sponsored by the Gulf Coast Veterans Heath Care System, was of particular importance to ECAT General Manager Herold Humphrey.

“Our community is filled with veterans,” said Humphrey. “ECAT employs 22 veterans, and we have countless family members who are serving, so this is a cause that is near and dear to our hearts. We are glad to be able to help those who have volunteered to serve our country.”

After the Veterans Stand Down on Friday, ECAT also participated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk at Cordova Mall on Saturday, October 26. Approximately 20 ECAT employees and family members walked to raise money for the fight against breast cancer. Tonya Ellis, Director of Marketing and Community Relations, spear-headed this effort.

“One out of every eight women in America will develop breast cancer,” said Ellis. “That is a staggering statistic. This disease has touched all of us in one form or another, so it was important to the ECAT family to participate in the walk. We’re raising money as we walk together to raise awareness and to fight this terrible disease.”

According to Humphrey, volunteering and giving back is a priority for ECAT. “We are engaged with our community,” he said. “We see that there are needs we can meet, and we want to reach out. While these two events are important, they are just a small part of what we plan to do in the future to help out.”