Volunteer transportation nonprofit outlines expansion into Madison County and seeks local volunteers

Heather Ringler, program director for Voltran, a regional nonprofit that provides volunteer transportation, introduced the organization and described its expansion into Madison County.

Ringler told the board Voltran serves five counties (Madison, Culpeper, Orange, Rappahannock and Fauquier). She said the organization began operating in 2007, became a nonprofit around 2010 and expanded into Madison County around 2020–2021. Ringler said volunteers provide rides to medical appointments and essential errands and the group does not restrict service to a single demographic; clients often include older adults and persons with disabilities.

Ringler reported that Voltran’s 2024 data across the five counties showed 3,318 rides fulfilled and an estimated charitable value of over $208,000. She said volunteers drive substantial miles (Voltran reported 80,000 miles across all counties) and that Madison County currently has a smaller volunteer base compared with Fauquier, where the program originated. Ringler named local volunteer Billy Tanner as a significant contributor in Madison County.

Ringler asked the county and supervisors to help publicize volunteer recruitment and shared contact materials she left at the meeting. She said Voltran partners with the Regional Transportation Collaborative (RTC) call center, which pre-screens riders’ needs and passes ride requests to Voltran volunteers.

Supervisors thanked Ringler and asked staff to share Voltran’s recruitment materials and event schedule with county partners. Ringler said she plans local outreach events and invited supervisors to suggest venues where volunteers or riders might be found.

The presentation did not include a request for county funding; Ringler’s remarks focused on volunteer recruitment and coordination with RTC.