Volunteer drivers urgently needed for seniors’ program

WATERLOO REGION — Community Support Connections – Meals on Wheels and More issued an urgent call Thursday for volunteer drivers to take seniors to medical appointments and other essential outings.

“Despite the fact we’re working smarter and harder, we’re still not able to keep up with the increase in demand,” said Rosalind Horne, the agency’s director of engagement and responsiveness.

Transportation is the agency’s fastest growing program, and demand continues to rise as the population ages. Rides have skyrocketed from 10,000 in 2008 to more than 40,000 last year.

About 100 ride requests cannot be filled every month due to a shortfall in available drivers. This summer alone, more than 300 requests had to be turned down.

The agency relies on a steady group of volunteer drivers, about seven, and it has been growing a fleet of vehicles to transport groups of clients. There’s a small fee for the service, and subsidies are available.

Now it’s expanding the transportation program to evening and weekend hours, thanks to funding from the Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation.

“If we can move some of the more flexible rides … then hopefully we can accommodate more of the medical rides during the day,” Horne said.

Plus, they’re hoping they can attract a whole new group of volunteers who work during the day but would like to be drivers.

“Even in the daytime, it’s really flexible,” said Horne, adding that daytime drivers are asked about their availability for the upcoming week and rides are scheduled when they’re free.

Taking seniors to medical appointments, the grocery store, day programs or to visit their partner in long-term care helps them live at home independently for longer.

And the volunteers do so much more than drive the seniors around.

“It lets them know they haven’t been forgotten,” Horne said. “It really can have such a significant impact on someone’s day knowing someone is choosing to be there for them.”

Find out more at www.communitysupportconnections.org.