cares’ Rides Program Fills Needs

By Akara Draper

The rides program is one of several services offered by Dummerston Cares. Our volunteer drivers are happy to take Dummerston residents to medical appointments—locally and regionally—ranging up to 75 miles away. Plus, we help with occasional local errands when one of our community members is housebound and unable to drive due to some medical reason.

Personally, being of service in this practical way means a lot to me. I am the coordinator of the rides program and also a driver. I enjoy finding and working with our volunteers to set up the rides. As a driver myself, I appreciate interacting with people in our community whom I would not otherwise have the opportunity to know.

Here’s what our other drivers share about how they enjoy being part of the rides program.

Roger Turner: Providing rides is a good opportunity to meet and get to know fellow community members whom I otherwise wouldn’t know. I like being able to help somebody who’s in need of a ride. I also believe in the mission of Dummerston Cares and am glad to contribute to their worthwhile efforts.

Gurudharm Khalsa: By helping others reach their destination, I find my own way forward into the selfless rewards of service.

Susan Read-Smith: I would guess that many volunteers enjoy the feeling of doing something practical for their neighbors. The endorphins in our brains give us that “feel good” sense when we “do for others.” I do think also that we hope—because we do for others—that some day Dummerston Cares will be there for us.

Catie G. Berg: What I like about being a driver for the rides program is that I get to meet delightful people and share the resource of my car. It’s a win-win situation when the rider is grateful and I feel a boost by being helpful.

Meg Lyons: Volunteering to drive for Cares is a very small gesture on my part. Together with other Cares volunteers, I believe that our small gestures all add up and have a big impact over time. And it feels good to work with others who are making our corner of the world a better place.

Susan Daigler: Our Rides Program is very meaningful to me because I was on the receiving end of rides many years ago. I had fractured a leg and had a neighbor who drove me to appointments and did my errands. Now I can do that for other Dummerston residents who need some assistance. A bonus is that I get to meet some interesting new people and form deeper friendships with people who were just acquaintances.

Connie and Norris Evans: Driving for Dummerston Cares gives us a chance to reach out and help people directly. It’s also a good way to get to know others in the community. We’ve had some lovely chats as we made our way to an appointment.