HONOLULU – Gov. Linda Lingle has released a $182,000 grant-in-aid to Maui Economic Opportunity Inc., a private non-profit company, to provide non-emergency medical transportation services for patients requiring dialysis treatment on Maui and Moloka'i.

MEO, chartered in 1965, provides a variety of services to low-income elderly, children and youth, persons with disabilities, immigrants and disadvantaged persons to enhance their self-sufficiency and enrich their lives, a news release from the governor's office said.

The organization operates Maui County's largest transportation program, with 92 employees and 80 vehicles that transport students, seniors, residents who are disabled and many others. The program's dialysis service assists approximately 75 dialysis patients on Maui and five dialysis patients on Moloka'i who lack transportation.