Bashful Dan

I started a RIDES program. I got the idea when my Dad could no longer operate a motor vehicle. I would drive out to the house to pick him up for Rotary meetings and he would be waiting on the porch, sitting on the old lounger. His face would light up when I pulled into the driveway and there was that huge Jack smile. When you lose your license you don’t just lose your driving privileges; you lose some of your dignity. I did not do a study, write a grant proposal, or form a committee to yak about it. I bought some business card stock at Staples and printed out cards that said RIDES program and slapped my cell phone number on it. Then I stood up at every meeting I attended and asked folks to volunteer to give a ride to someone in need just twice a year.

Now I get inquiries from Sonoma, Vermont, and Canada about how did I start the program and how does it work? Well, it’s working pretty good except we thought it would primarily be for senior citizens that needed to be picked up at home and taken to their dentist, doctor, physical therapy appointment … and then returned home. It is that but it has also been a ride from Bonner General Hospital to just above the Canadian border. It has been a trip to Spokane for appointments on both the north side and south hill and back to Sandpoint. It has been middle of the night trips in the snow to Kootenai Medical Center. It was an 8 year old girl that was in a full body cast being met at Spokane airport and brought home to Sandpoint. It’s been a 30-40 something that has to go for cancer treatment in Cda.

It’s been alot of things and it has taken some incredible “need you right now” responses from Ginger Petty and the gang at Black Diamond Engineering to make it work. Beth Ann and Mike Williams going to Canada in response to a request to transport someone “north of town”. Or Brenda Fletcher responding to a request to pick up some pet food at Walmart and spending hours and filling up her SUV twice, not with fuel - with store items.

Volunteers are using their own cars and fuel and not charging a fee. We did not realize that we would have people that needed to go to dialysis in Spokane and that trips to Cda would be so necessary or that the driver providing transport might have several hours between drop off and pick up and return. We have an absolute need for more retired day time drivers. If you can volunteer call me at 290-2249.

Everyone who provides transportation has a great story and most of us have many new friends and chosen family members. Maybe your small group or office would like to volunteer? Every time I pull up and see one of my regulars smiling I can’t help but think of my Dad and that makes me smile too.

Tags: airport, cars, center, jack, medical, program, ride, rides, rotary, smile, Transportation