The relationship between volunteer drivers and clients is mutually rewarding.
Miriam enjoyed a successful career as a high-fashion retail clothing consultant. Accustomed to meeting and interacting with people every day, she spent decades running here and there, always in heels, choosing outfits that would turn heads and make people wonder, “Where did she get that dress? I need it!” Now in her eighties, Miriam misses those days. Due to serious injuries that resulted from falling down a flight of concrete stairs, she suddenly lost the level of mobility and freedom she had always taken for granted. It took a year and a half to heal after her fall, and she still has trouble walking.
“For people like me, it’s so hard to keep asking friends for help; they have lives, too,” Miriam says. “You feel embarrassed that you can’t do it yourself, so you just stop going to the doctor…or go less often.” Luckily, Miriam found the help she needed through the volunteer transportation services offered by JFCS. “In the three years since I have started using volunteer drivers, I have loved every single one. The women and men who drive me are so kind, but more than that, they feel like friends. We have a real rapport, and I kiss them on the cheek when I leave them!”
For Miriam and many older adults, the inability to drive represents a loss of freedom, independence, and control. Family members, neighbors, and friends can’t always be counted on to meet their needs, and the frightening reality is that when seniors don’t have access to transportation, they simply don’t go to the doctor when they need to. JFCS helps to bridge this gap by offering vetted, reliable volunteers, at the touch of a phone, to drive clients to medical and wellness appointments at no or nominal cost.
JFCS offers several programs for volunteer drivers and clients. Medical Appointment Transportation Volunteers drive clients to and from doctor appointments, therapies, and wellness appointments. In addition, volunteers are occasionally needed to transport JFCS counseling clients to and from their therapy appointments at the agency’s main location in Cherry Hill. For those looking to build deeper relationships, Patient Partners Advocates not only drive clients to and from doctor appointments, but they also attend doctors’ visits with the clients, take notes, help patients understand important medical information, and schedule follow-up appointments. Patient Partners Advocates receive training from JFCS nurses and social workers for this service opportunity. Take the Wheel provides free rides for veterans from other veterans and local volunteers to medical appointments at area physicians’ offices, as well as the Philadelphia VA Medical Center. These services are available to veterans living in Camden, Burlington, and Gloucester Counties.
The special relationship that develops between volunteers and clients is mutually rewarding, creating much-needed opportunities for social interaction and human connection. Says Marty, a longtime volunteer driver and JFCS Volunteer of the Year in 2018, “The clients are warm and friendly. They really show me appreciation. No matter what is going on in my life, these clients have more challenges, more needs, and more stories. I love being involved in their lives.” A retired teacher with time on his hands, Marty jumped at the opportunity when his wife saw an ad for JFCS volunteer drivers. “I have changed as a person because of my experience here. The clients make me want to extend myself even further,” says Marty. “This experience has helped me become a better human being.”
JFCS is actively seeking new volunteer drivers to put the wheels into motion for our clients. We encourage eligible community members to become a part of these programs and experience the rewarding journey of volunteering. Volunteer drivers must be over the age of 18 and should have the flexibility to pick and choose rides that fit within their schedules. The majority of rides requested are Monday through Friday between 8:30am and 4pm. Whether you can provide one ride per week or one ride a month, JFCS can use your help. All new volunteers must complete a vetting process, which includes an application, background check, reference check, and a brief training session. If you would like to become a volunteer driver, please contact Sherri Jonas at (856) 424-1333 ext. 1180 or Randi Brown at (856) 424-1333 ext. 1541.
JFCS ADVOCATE 