Partners in Care - Transportation Program

Arm-in-arm and door-through-door transportation to help older adults live independently.

PIC volunteer drivers traveled over 100,000 miles last year taking people to medical appointments, pharmacies, grocery stores, and on errands of all kinds. Medical and safety issues are the highest priority, while visits to family and friends, hairdressers, and recreational outings are important too. An average of over 110 rides per week are provided.

Rides are personalized. The driver picks up the person at their front door, helps them into the car, takes them to the facilility, waits with them, then takes them safely home again. Often the volunteer driver will stop for groceries or to enjoy a social lunch. The minimum service of having a ride provided is enhanced by a kind social interaction.

Here’s how it works: You might offer to drive on Tuesday mornings. We'll call you 3-5 days in advance for a Tuesday morning ride in your area. If you can do it that day, it is arranged. If you can’t do it, that's fine; there is no guilt. We'll simply call the next volunteer driver on the list, then call you another time. Having a large pool of people to draw from allows for great flexibility. Our custom software program facilities "ride-matching."

Rides are provided by volunteers using their own cars. Normally, rides are provided to local health care offices and roundtrips are completed in a reasonable period of time, but some trips require a volunteer’s entire day and a significant expenditure of fuel. Therefore, partial fuel reimbursement is available to drivers.

*There is no charge for our transportation services, and we are not reimbursed by agencies for providing rides. We do ask riders to pay for mileage on a sliding scale if possible, and we ask the community to support this important program. If you would like to help, please donate to the fund to pay for volunteer drivers' gas. Call Anne Myers at 410-544-4800 for more information.

Older Driver Safety

Keeping older drivers safe on the road is important. Volunteer member, Randy Marshall, teaches the 8-hour AARP Safe Driving Course at our office every quarter. Any one interested in the course is welcome, and you could have your insurance premiums reduced by 10% as a result, depending on your carrier. Call Sandy or Pat at 410-544-4800 for the class schedule.

We always need drivers and hope you will consider participating. You'll help others, meet wonderful new people, have fun, and earn ‘credit in the bank’ for the time when you might need a ride or a helping hand around the house.

Please contact Sandy or Pat at the office for more information 410.544.4800.

For transportation in and around Frederick, please contact Sarah or Emily at 301-600-6008.