Volunteer Center Restarts Transportation & Helping Hands, By Trea

By Trea Robinson

For aging adults isolated at home, getting to essential appointments or doing simple home repair is challenging even in “normal” times. During the Covid-19 pandemic, these tasks became nearly impossible for such adults.

The Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County Transportation Program & Helping Hands Program have served to address the needs of ambulatory seniors and the disabled by offering rides throughout the county and donation-based home repairs.

Earlier in the pandemic, the Volunteer Center was not able to mobilize volunteers

Dave Kjos and Mark Null are two of the Helping Hands volunteers who provide safety checks for seniors. More volunteers are needed.

Jacob’s Heart

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Support Services is looking for volunteers.

Ann, Diane, and Mamiche — three amazing volunteers — have created card kits for children to take home.

Summer is just around the corner. If you don’t have any plans, come volunteer with us.

1998-2018 20 TH ANNIVERSARY

MAH Museum Volunteers

Now that the state and county have relaxed COVID restrictions, volunteers are invited to help the Museum of Art & History, 705 Front St., Santa Cruz. A couple of ways to do that:

for these programs due to restrictions. With restrictions easing, these programs have begun serving this vulnerable population again and there is a long waiting list of seniors eagerly waiting for support.

“We are excited to be able to once again help our older adult community with safety modifications and essential rides. Our waitlist for both Helping Hands and Transportation is huge and it continues to grow as we struggle to catch up on the requests that came in during the pandemic,” said Senior Program Manager Tara Ireland.

The Transportation Program matches volunteer drivers with seniors age 55+ and disabled individuals for essential trips to medical appointments, grocery stores, pharmacies, and banks. Rides are provided throughout Santa Cruz County including Watsonville, San Lorenzo Valley, Scotts Valley, and Santa Cruz.

“It is one of the founding programs of our organization and has been 100% volunteer run since its inception. All drivers and ride dispatchers are community volunteers,” said Executive Director Karen Delaney.

Drivers can choose to make as little as one trip a month, or they can drive as often as they wish. They choose their own hours and destinations. All rides happen on weekdays during business hours, and drivers may receive mileage reimbursement.

Helping Hands program volunteers play a crucial role in helping low-income senior homeowners, disabled older adults and veterans age safely in their homes. Volunteers provide home safety checks and basic modifications that prevent falls in and around the home and allow for seniors to engage in the activities they enjoy.

“Our volunteers are the hearts and hands of our programs. The services and connections they provide literally save lives. We could not operate these valuable programs without them,” said Ireland.

If you would like to give your time to a local senior in need, please reach out to either of these programs via the phone numbers below. • Helping Hands: 831-427-5070 x105 • Transportation: 831-427-3435 •••

For more information, visit https://sc volunteercenter.org/programs/