Volunteers in Motion touts volunteer drivers, Medicaid rides and volunteer recruitment

Community in Motion representatives told Sunnyside neighborhood residents about Volunteers in Motion, a nonprofit service that provides accessible rides to older adults, people with disabilities and low-income or rural residents.

"We provide accessible, reliable transportation to seniors, people with disabilities, low income, and rural residents," said Jessica Wilson, specialty transportation coordinator for Volunteers in Motion. Wilson said the program includes a Reserve-a-Ride option that prioritizes life-sustaining treatments such as dialysis and cancer care and a North County shuttle serving towns including Battle Ground and La Center.

Wilson said volunteer drivers are background-checked and trained, receive mileage reimbursement and may use agency vehicles if they prefer. "Most of our drivers drive their own vehicles, and we provide support and training," she said. Clients can call the specialty program phone at (360) 735-3680; Medicaid-funded nonemergency medical rides are scheduled through a different line, (360) 694-9997.

Wilson described eligibility: volunteer-driver trips are available to adults 65 and older and to people with disabilities; employment-transportation services are referral-based and work through partners such as WorkSource. She encouraged neighbors to apply as volunteer drivers or to refer neighbors who need help with medical appointments or errands.

In a question-and-answer exchange, Wilson acknowledged some long trips (for example, to Portland) can be harder to fulfill but said a number of volunteers do travel regularly to Portland for appointments.

Wilson said Volunteers in Motion served more than 11,000 clients and provided over 350,000 trips last year across the agency's service area, and she urged residents to call or request brochures and information through the group's website for volunteer applications and client scheduling.