RSVP looking for volunteer drivers
NORWICH – Due to a lack of volunteer drivers for the Chenango County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), many senior citizens are missing decisive and potentially life-saving medical appointments with doctors.
One of the most pervasive problems troubling denizens of rural communities is getting from point A to point B. Unlike large cities, the pastoral regions of the nation, such as Chenango County, have less developed public transit systems. While this can translate into little more than a burden for youth able to drive themselves, it can develop into a life threatening issue for senior citizens in need of daily doses of chemotherapy or dialysis and have no convenient mode of transportation.
In comes RSVP, a volunteer-based subdivision of Opportunities for Chenango, which provides county residents 60-years and older with a means of transportation to critical medical appointments, and is now in desperate need of drivers to help out.
“We are hurting for drivers,” said RSVP Director Jon Moseley. “We only have one person to drive long distances,” he continued, referring to that particular volunteer as a “saint” due to the massive amount of hours logged in over the months, regardless of the weather conditions or the time of day he’s needed. In the month of January alone, this volunteer has traveled 1,700 miles, said Moseley.
But that individual can’t compensate the lack of volunteers. Although some public bussing does exist in Chenango County, many of the patrons of RSVP are elderly individuals who are frail or dealing with exhausting treatments and lack the strength to tackle long, arduous trips on the county’s limited public transport system.
Some of the senior citizens who depend upon RSVP no longer have a valid driver’s licence and in some cases, have sadly outlived their family and friends. With no one to turn to for help, they are constantly forced to miss or cancel medical appointments.
“Most of the time we are the last chance for people,” said Moseley. “I have a list of volunteers and when I am told someone needs to get to an appointment, I get on the phone and start looking for someone who is available.”
One of the major problems Moseley runs into though, is finding drivers who are willing to travel far or in inclement weather. Unfortunately, ailments such cancer do not wait for the sun to shine.
“Volunteering, in a lot of instances, is the heart and soul of these sorts of grassroots organizations which have such limited budgets,” he said.
For additional information or to volunteer for RSVP, call 336-6414 ext. 103, or visit ofcinc.org.
One of the most pervasive problems troubling denizens of rural communities is getting from point A to point B. Unlike large cities, the pastoral regions of the nation, such as Chenango County, have less developed public transit systems. While this can translate into little more than a burden for youth able to drive themselves, it can develop into a life threatening issue for senior citizens in need of daily doses of chemotherapy or dialysis and have no convenient mode of transportation.
In comes RSVP, a volunteer-based subdivision of Opportunities for Chenango, which provides county residents 60-years and older with a means of transportation to critical medical appointments, and is now in desperate need of drivers to help out.
“We are hurting for drivers,” said RSVP Director Jon Moseley. “We only have one person to drive long distances,” he continued, referring to that particular volunteer as a “saint” due to the massive amount of hours logged in over the months, regardless of the weather conditions or the time of day he’s needed. In the month of January alone, this volunteer has traveled 1,700 miles, said Moseley.
But that individual can’t compensate the lack of volunteers. Although some public bussing does exist in Chenango County, many of the patrons of RSVP are elderly individuals who are frail or dealing with exhausting treatments and lack the strength to tackle long, arduous trips on the county’s limited public transport system.
Some of the senior citizens who depend upon RSVP no longer have a valid driver’s licence and in some cases, have sadly outlived their family and friends. With no one to turn to for help, they are constantly forced to miss or cancel medical appointments.
“Most of the time we are the last chance for people,” said Moseley. “I have a list of volunteers and when I am told someone needs to get to an appointment, I get on the phone and start looking for someone who is available.”
One of the major problems Moseley runs into though, is finding drivers who are willing to travel far or in inclement weather. Unfortunately, ailments such cancer do not wait for the sun to shine.
“Volunteering, in a lot of instances, is the heart and soul of these sorts of grassroots organizations which have such limited budgets,” he said.
For additional information or to volunteer for RSVP, call 336-6414 ext. 103, or visit ofcinc.org.
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