UTICA — Excellus BlueCross BlueShield recently awarded St. Margaret’s Corporation of Utica a Community Health Award of $1,725 to support transportation services for guests at Emmaus House, an emergency shelter for homeless and transient women and children. This funding will allow Emmaus House to provide bus passes to the women utilizing the facility.

“These passes will allow our guests to safely travel to medical appointments, job interviews, apartment searches, and other necessary travel,” said Judith Reilly, St. Margaret’s Corporation executive director. “This service is an important addition to the safe, loving and supportive environment we provide for the women and children of Emmaus House.”

The Emmaus House, 1215 Kemble St., was founded by the Sisters of St. Margaret in 1983. Now in its 37th year, they have provided temporary emergency shelter to over 12,000 women and children. Officials say Emmaus House provides a warm, comfortable home-like environment for women and children and that guests are provided with shelter, meals, toiletries and the love and encouragement needed to rebuild their lives.

Through a competitive application process, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s Community Health Awards provide funding to launch, expand, and sustain programs and services that promote health. These investments advance health equity by extending the reach of preventive health services or health-promoting programs to vulnerable populations.

“The company’s Community Health Awards demonstrate a corporate commitment to support local organizations that share our mission as a nonprofit health plan,” said Eve Van de Wal, Utica regional president of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. “We recognize that addressing social determinants of health, such as housing and transportation availability, is vital to the health and wellbeing of our communities and we are pleased to support the Emmaus House with this essential community health funding.”

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s Utica region encompasses Clinton, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego and St. Lawrence counties.