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Due to the need for more volunteers, Once a week, volunteer Milt Martin picks up Eva Erroude at her home to take
some volunteers are stepping up two her grocery shopping.
to three times a week to take clients to
appointments to help meet the demand independently. Without our services along the way.
for services, volunteering more than some of our clients would be in assisted
the agency likes its volunteers to work. living; it’s that important.” Volunteers, however, cannot provide
The agency’s board members are also rides for anyone using a wheelchair who
stepping up to fulfill ride requests, And, she noted, “If you don’t get out, the cannot transfer independently from a
Handley said. weaker you get.” wheelchair, nor do volunteers transport
wheelchairs in their vehicles.
Sun City resident Dottie Mitchell, The agency, whose small budget is
who serves on the organization’s supported by multiple Georgetown The agency operates with a staff of four
board of directors and is a longtime churches, businesses and other sources, part-time workers, and its budget in 2015
volunteer driver, said many clients provides a maximum of two round-trip is $130,000. Among the Georgetown
are sight-impaired, on dialysis or have rides a week for each client. In 2014, the churches supporting the agency is Sun
other serious health issues, and the agency provided 5,200 rides to seniors City’s The Worship Place.
transportation volunteers provide is in Georgetown, including many seniors
crucial. “You feel it’s the Lord’s will that who are low income. While the primary focus of the agency
you do something for them.” is providing transportation for older
Older people who need transportation people, it also provides some volunteers
More than half the rides, 54 percent, the assistance are often faced with having who grocery shop for clients unable to get
agency provides are to take clients to to call a taxi or CARTS, which is out and shop for themselves, handyman
medical-related appointments, Handley authorized by the Texas transportation services and help with other needs.
said. The agency and its volunteers code to provide low-cost bus travel in the
provide transportation for clients for Austin area. Taxis can be expensive and There are other nonprofit agencies
medical appointments as far south as CARTS is not always a timely service, serving other parts of the Austin area
central Austin and north to Temple. especially for medical appointments, with similar volunteer programs that
Handley said. transport older people to crucial places
The remaining rides are to take clients they need to go.
shopping, to the social security office, Faith in Action Georgetown volunteers
to fitness centers to exercise and other provide individualized service to Erroude says she is deeply grateful to
places locally for which they need clients, she said, ensuring clients make Faith in Action Georgetown volunteers
transportation. their appointments on time and provide who provide her with transportation. “I
them with friendly, supportive service couldn’t live without it,” she said.
“We take people wherever they need to
go,’’ Handley said, saying many clients S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5 SUNRAYS | 59
do not have children or family nearby
to help with transportation. “For some
people, we’re they’re only source for rides
to get to the grocery store or the doctor.”
“Our mission is to help them live
ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG
