Large cites rely on public transit to keep people moving, but in rural communities with few transportation options how do people stay connected? Who brings folks from seniors’ homes to their dialysis appointments? How do those without their own vehicle visit friends and family?
The answer? Volunteers! In rural areas, volunteer-run and non-profit transit agencies are an essential lifeline for their communities. Volunteer transit services can provide a critical affordable transportation option that connects people to economic, medical and social opportunities. Not only does volunteer-based transit give people a reliable way to get around, but it also helps build community. The volunteers themselves bring a warm, personal touch, that helps passengers forge valuable social relationships with other community members.
Featured below are two volunteer-run and non-profit transit services doing exceptional work, along with the stories of the caring, committed people who make it all possible.
Urban/Rural Rides (URR) is a volunteer driving program whose mission is to provide affordable and accessible transportation across New Brunswick. Their aim is to reduce isolation and increase independence for those who do not have access to transportation.
The driving force behind this incredible initiative is URR’s executive director, Kelly Taylor. Celebrating ten years with URR this year, Kelly has helped build the organization from the ground up. Since she started, URR has gone from serving a handful of small communities to now serving eight regions across the province, reaching more than 2,600 seniors and low-income residents.
In her work at URR, Kelly loves “being a part of a huge team of staff and volunteers whose mission is to help make others' lives better by not just providing transportation but also showing caring and kindness to those who are vulnerable, lonely and isolated.” Kelly’s kindness shines through her dedication to making the work of the volunteers meaningful and rewarding.
“Volunteering is a two-way street. Clients can live a bit easier with the assistance of low-cost transport, and I as a volunteer profit from interaction with clients which adds meaning to my day.”
Find out more at https://urbanruralrides.ca/
In North Simcoe, Ontario, Community Reach provides affordable, accessible transportation to community members. Based in Midland, they connect North Simcoe residents to critical medical care, groceries, and social activities, breaking down barriers to mobility and fostering stronger community bonds.
With their program Transportation Linking Communities (TLC), volunteers drive residents within the four communities of North Simcoe and provide long-distance rides to medical appointments, ensuring that all people can reach healthcare.
Volunteers literally keep the wheels turning at Community Reach, so much so that Michele Kolton, the transportation coordinator at Community Reach says that “when we get a new volunteer driver, I feel like we’ve won the lottery.”
“You develop a relationship with them. You can’t help but know their stories and families… that’s the rewarding part for me… “Not only is it about the physical accessibility, but the social accessibility as well”.
Find out more at https://communityreach.ca/
Volunteer transit services often work with small budgets and limited staff, so ensuring everything runs efficiently is incredibly important. At the same time, volunteers are giving up their time to help others, so they deserve tools that make their work easier and more enjoyable. That’s where Blaise comes in.
At Blaise, we’ve built our software with volunteer agencies in mind. For example, many volunteer drivers are older and are not comfortable with mobile devices, so Blaise allows agencies to print paper manifests for them to use. Even with drivers that are comfortable with technology, many organizations have tight budgets and cannot afford to provide tablets for every vehicle to provide routing instructions. To respond to this, we’ve designed the Blaise Driver app to work on volunteer’s personal cell phones. In the Blaise Drive app itself, we’ve designed our routing to continue to provide directions and limit schedule changes in areas with limited or unreliable internet, which is essential for the rural areas that volunteer agencies tend to operate in. Finally, after completing their shifts, volunteers can quickly track their odometer mileage in the Blaise app, making reimbursement for any costs associated with volunteering quicker and easier.
Because of features like these, Blaise is the most trusted partner for non-profits, community transportation networks, and other volunteer-based services to help them keep their communities connected, healthy, and accessible.
If you're considering growing or starting up a volunteer transportation service, please reach out to us – we'd love to help!
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