FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MT. JULIET, Tenn. (November 5, 2026) — The Tennessee Federation for the Aging presented Wilson Rides Inc. with the 2026 Middle Tennessee Aging Innovation Award and Wilson County Mayor Randall Hutto with the 2026 Middle Tennessee Elected Official Aging Champion Award on October 29 in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
The Aging Innovation Award honors programs that find new ways to serve older adults or meet an unmet need. Wilson Rides drew on the volunteer network and community partnerships it had built through its transportation program to address three needs in Wilson County.
- Delivering food to older adults at home. Wilson Rides partnered with One Generation Away and used its existing volunteer network to launch a monthly food box delivery program. Local partners helped identify older adults who could benefit, including grandparents raising grandchildren. Together, Wilson Rides and its partners delivered 2,960 food boxes from September 2025 through August 2026 to their clients as well as local organizations serving older adults in their network.
- Connecting people with medical equipment when they need it. Wilson Rides has become a local hub for recycling donated medical equipment and a trusted resource for residents, families, and hospital case managers. Working with Daisy’s Donations and other community partners, Wilson Rides helps people find equipment when they’re coming home from the hospital or rehab, need something quickly, or need equipment beyond what their insurance will cover. The program also serves older adults who are uninsured or underinsured through their local community partnerships.
- Helping riders reach dialysis during the ice storm. When icy roads made it unsafe for volunteer drivers to travel, Wilson Rides coordinated with local fire and emergency management teams to help their riders get to their dialysis appointments.
“People often call us when they need help right away,” said Gaye Lynn Wilson, executive director of Wilson Rides. “A family may be getting ready to bring someone home from rehab and need equipment before discharge. Because we already work with local partners, we know who to call and can help families find what they need. Those same relationships help us get food to someone’s door or get a rider to dialysis during an ice storm.”
Wilson Rides congratulates Mayor Hutto on his award, which recognizes his commitment to helping older residents remain healthy, connected, and independent. His support for safe, dependable transportation for older adults helped launch Wilson Rides, and his leadership was instrumental in Wilson County joining the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities.
In October 2024, Wilson County received a Certificate of Commitment for joining the AARP network, becoming one of only two Tennessee counties at the time to achieve that distinction. The Mayor’s Office continues to lead efforts to make Wilson County more age-friendly. Wilson Rides is proud to work alongside the county through the Wilson County Age-Friendly Advisory Council, which has held regular listening sessions and is planning a community health fair, with details to be announced.
About Wilson Rides
Wilson Rides Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established in 2020. Wilson Rides aims to enhance the quality of life and foster a connected community for adults 55+ in Wilson County, TN by providing safe, affordable transportation to local destinations through a network of trained volunteer drivers. Wilson Rides was named the 2022 Nonprofit of Excellence by the Lebanon/Wilson County Chamber of Commerce. Executive Director Gaye Lynn Wilson was named the 2022 Wilsonian of the Year by the Mt. Juliet Chamber of Commerce and Wilson County’s Adult Volunteer of the Year through the Governor’s Volunteer Stars Awards program in 2025. The organization also received the Community Enhancement Award in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, in both January and April 2025. Follow Wilson Rides on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn @wilsonridesinc, listen to the StoryTime with Wilson Rides podcast, and learn more at www.wilsonridesinc.org.
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