Drive Happiness Annual Report

2021 ANNUAL REPORT

A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 2021 was another challenging trip around the sun. The ups and downs of the pandemic, increased service demand, an icy winter, and fluctuations in our volunteer roster resulted in minimal downtime. But despite these obstacles, Drive Happiness volunteers, staff, and supporters pushed through to make 2021 one of our best years yet.

Many organizational milestones come to mind when I consider all that we’ve accomplished over the past 12 months. We significantly increased the number of clients we serve, expanded to a host of new communities, and gained valuable partnerships across the province. We also launched our branded merchandise, held a volunteer drive-thru and successful holiday auction, and were featured in numerous media articles and events. There was never a dull moment!

But I think our greatest accomplishment in 2021 was simply the routine operation of our programs. Every day, Drive Happiness volunteers donate their time and vehicles to help older adults get where they need to go. They ensure that community members attend their medical appointments, stock their pantries, and visit with the people they love. It’s a rare day when we don’t receive a call, email, or letter of thanks from one of our many riders, who often detail the difficult situation they would have been in without our organization. Knowing the difference our service makes in the lives of older adults encourages us to keep going when challenges arise.

I want to extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who’s played a role, big or small, in making 2021 the incredible year that it was. Here’s to even more successes in the year to come!

LIZA BOUCHARD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

A MESSAGE FROM OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Our Board of Directors wanted to pass a message on to the Drive Happiness volunteers. Thank you all so much for your continued support throughout another difficult year. Drive Happiness’ volunteers served more people in 2021 than ever before and this is because of you. Our volunteer drivers assisted an incredible number of nonprofits, throughout the province, to ensure their clients were getting what they needed. The many hours you put in did not go unnoticed. You gave countless people the ability to maintain some quality of life and still feel connected in their community. Your check-in calls, conversations in the car, and the empathy you showed the seniors were a lifeline. You decreased their isolation and continued to help them through the pandemic. From food security to activity kits, you did it all! However, you provided so much more than supplies. You provided hope and a sense of community that many people thought was lost. Even before the pandemic, you decreased stress for so many. The positive impact you have on people’s mental health and wellbeing is extremely significant. The board of directors is looking forward to another phenomenal year with Drive Happiness.

Thank you again to all of the volunteer drivers for your dedication and contributions. We will be forever grateful for helping our seniors when they needed it the most.

DRIVE HAPPINESS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A MESSAGE FROM HEATHER MCPHERSON MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR EDMONTON STRATHCONA

Congratulations to Drive Happiness on another incredible year of providing vital support and transportation services to Alberta seniors. Rather than succumb to the tremendous challenges COVID presented, Drive Happiness rose to the occasion and took care and consideration for seniors to a whole new level. In normal times, Drive Happiness provides critical support and service, helping to break the loneliness and isolation so many seniors face and eliminating the frustration so many seniors feel just meeting their basic needs.

But during a global pandemic, Drive Happiness has proven to be a lifesaver, putting the health and wellbeing of seniors above all else.

This organization stands as a shining example of how to turn a crisis into an opportunity to do more, how to truly serve the needs of its clientele, and how to protect the precious dignity of vulnerable individuals.

Thank you to all the Drive Happiness staff, volunteers, and supporters. I am so proud to represent so many of you and to have you as a part of Edmonton Strathcona.

2021 YEAR IN REVIEW

HOW WE DO IT WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY. Residents, organizations, governments, the business community, and the non-profit sector are all working together to create social and physical environments that allow every person to participate fully. Thank you to our 2021 funders for helping get seniors where they need to go.

Thank you to our 2021 donors for helping get seniors where they need to go.

Judy & Jim Allard Kay Sawka Laura Kay Lillian Anderson Linda Donnelly Linda Shea Long Be Lorraine Ducharme Lynn Jack Mardelle Ruth Derman Margot Trembath & Phillip Vere Marguerite Redshaw Marlyn Wall Mary Quaghebeur Mary Vandenderen Maxine Mitchell Merle Ghaney Norman Gressel Patricia Cox Patricia Senych Patricia Slobodian Patricia Suitor Paul Belliveau Pauline McLeod Ralph Ramsted Richard Dodsworth Richard & Gail Mansell Roger Kshyk Rosella Clark Sandra McLarty Lillian Sharun Sheila Hallett Sylvestor & Claire Dolinski Trudy Gablehouse Vera Sexsmith Vernon & Marlene Belsheim Verona Danchuk Victor Paterson Violet Kully Violet Spencer Wayne & Joan Fox Wayne Brattland Wergilia Baguio Zarina Merali Iain Walker Gail Agar Robert Bilodeau

Alice Monson Amalita Bax Amanda Burke Catherine Armstrong Bernice Cassidy Betty Menard Betty Dobbe Beverly McAlear Beverly Merrit Bithi Ghosh Carol Reid Carry Berk Cheryl Nelson Deborah Maddox Delber O'Brien Dennis Hayden Dennis Laframboise Doreen Potapoff Doris Bannister Ed Fenske Ed Sense Edward Boyachuk Edward Horychuk Eleanor Becker Esther Joza Eugene & Delores King Frances Blonar Gaetane Boucher George & Setphka Leonty Georgette La France Gina Shymko Gladys Ringuette Gloria Fricker Gordon Belcourt Gurdeep Garbaria Harold & Kathleen Lake Heather Joy Hoover Helen Lysakowski Jack Casey Jane & Allan Uglanica Jean Poon Jerome & Dorothy Leibel Joseph Malowney Joyce Clarke Korean Veterans Association Caisse Desjardins Des Transports Muttart Foundation

ACROSS THE PROVINCE Shiloh Sabas is the Seniors Support Coordinator for the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO), which offers various programs and services to older adults. As a trained nurse and wellness advocate, Shiloh is well-aware of the link between accessible transportation and one’s ability to live a healthy life. With support from the United Way and Volunteer Lethbridge, she played a key role in expanding the Seniors Assisted Transportation Program to Southern Alberta. Her knowledge of community resources and the challenges of establishing a volunteer-based driving service helped successfully kickstart the program amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and approximately 600 rides have been completed in the region since.

Dave Maffitt is Chair of the Volunteer Airdrie Society, and as a lifelong volunteer, he’s been involved with many organizations. He was the Chairperson for the Basketball Sport at the Airdrie 2014 Alberta Summer Games, where he organized and supervised 75 volunteers at four venues over three days.

He is a Membership Officer for the Karate Alberta Association, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alberta JKA Karate Association, and was president of Airdrie Minor Basketball for five years. He also serves as a board member for the Airdrie Sport Council, the Airdrie Kiwanis Club, and Volunteer Alberta. Dave’s considerable knowledge of volunteer management has been a significant asset in expanding Drive Happiness to Airdrie. So far, more than 500 rides have been completed in this community.

SENIORS EQUITY COLLECTIVE

The Seniors Equity Collective is a collaborative approach to service delivery for seniors living in the Edmonton area who experience barriers to accessing programs and services. Drive Happiness, Sage Seniors Association, GEF Seniors Housing, and the Multicultural Health Brokers work together for the inclusion of all seniors. As a formal collective, we are working towards integrating multiple programs and services to ensure seamless referrals and maximize the potential impact of the support that we can offer together. This work increases our capacity to serve seniors in our community and leverages our collective wisdom and expertise in our respective program areas.

DRIVE HAPPINESS MERCH

In the fall of 2021, Drive Happiness launched a limited-edition clothing line in support of its Seniors Assisted Transportation Program. Hoodies, T-shirts, and crew-neck sweaters were designed locally by the Branded Good, featuring messages such as “Kindness is a two-way street.” Check out the available styles and place an order at https://drivehappiness.ca/shop/!

VACCINE TRIPS & DRAV

In 2021 Drive Happiness worked throughout the province to assist individuals in getting to their vaccine appointments. Our network of volunteers completed 1,152 trips to vaccine appointments in 34 communities. In 2022, we will continue this work through the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Immunization Partnership Fund.

Driving Rural Access to Vaccines (DRAV) works to close the gap among populations with lower vaccine uptake rates by promoting informed vaccination choices and increasing accessibility and convenience. DRAV has quickly adapted to both provincial and federal COVID-19 restrictions and updates and we have centered our approach around public health principles and community needs while finding a new path forward. DRAV is looking for folks to work as volunteer drivers in the Northwest region of Alberta as well as project partners who want to help move this forward. DRAV is focusing on Grand Prairie (GP) as a hub for Northwestern Alberta and looking to expand our services to this region. For more information check out the new DRAV page on our website! https://drivehappiness.ca/drav/

JANET HUGHES AWARD Drive Happiness has collaborated with Edmonton’s Food Bank since the beginning of the pandemic to deliver hampers to individuals who are isolating or experiencing transportation barriers. In 2021, the Food Bank awarded our organization with a Janet Hughes Award for lessening local food insecurity. Thank you to all the volunteers who made this honour possible!

2021 FINANCIALS