The Volunteer Transportation program is incredibly proud of volunteer driver Syd Darlington, who was recently recognized by Governor Jay Inslee at the 2015 Washington State Governor’s Awards for Volunteerism.  Syd and 38 other awardees were selected out of Washington State’s 1.82 million volunteers and honored at a ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion in Olympia.   Recipients ranged in age from 15 to 82.  Syd was humbled and inspired by the event.

Syd developed a strong ethic of service after arriving to the United States from the UK in 1981, but he became fully immersed in volunteer work after retiring in late 2007. He admits that he “doesn't like to be still for long” and enjoys keeping busy by serving his community. His volunteer résumé is quite long and includes a wide variety of roles.  In addition to driving seniors with Volunteer Transportation, Syd serves the Bellevue Police Department as a Crossroads Community Police Station attendant and general “Jack of all trades” (from record digitizing to event photography); teaches at Unity of Bellevue; and advises and judges with DECA.  Syd is clearly a people-person and reports that, like most volunteers, he understands the “warm glow” one receives from helping others.   He finds all of his volunteer work to be very rewarding and knows that it keeps his mind active and alert.

Volunteer driving is very near and dear to Syd.  When he first signed-up to drive for Volunteer Transportation back in 2008, he admits that he had no idea of how important and needed the service is for its clients.   He explains how he has learned the many layers of volunteer driving.  He says, “We are more than just drivers.   We are caregivers and companions.  We serve as social bridges for people who might not otherwise have outside contact with others.  Going to appointments is never a fun thing in the first place, and we bring light to the situation.”  In addition, Syd feels privileged to have given rides to many inspiring seniors who are great role models of aging gracefully.  He values these relationships.

Congratulations, Syd!  You remind us of what volunteering is all about.

Just a couple short months ago, Robert Cuffel became the newest member of our Hyde Shuttle Volunteer Driver team in Des Moines.  We were all elated to have him on board, as the program was (and still is) in great need of additional drivers.  Robert seamlessly adjusted to his new role with a wonderful can-do attitude and has already become an invaluable part of the Hyde community. 

• What made you decide to become a Hyde Shuttle volunteer driver?  As a retiree, I wanted to give back to our community.  There is a great need.
• What do you enjoy most about serving as a driver thus far? The clients are wonderful.  I feel fortunate helping out.
• What has been the most interesting part of this volunteer job? The most interesting and challenging part was to become familiar with the addresses.  I generally drive to familiar locations without taking note of the addresses.  It was somewhat humbling to view driving in this new context.
• Why do you think this is such a needed service in our community? People are very busy with the demands of their jobs, families and friends.  In my case, I wasn't aware of how the great the need is.
• Is there anything that you’ve learned or reflected about because of your role of volunteer driver that you’d like to share with us? How very fortunate I and my family are to have independence and good health to enjoy. 

Thank you to Robert for so quickly and thoughtfully jumping into the world of the Hyde Shuttles!  We hope that he continues to enjoy his service with the program for years to come, and that many others join this admirable team as well.

There are many extraordinary individuals involved in the Volunteer Transportation program, and this story began as an attempt to profile two such commendable people: Bill Goodfellow (volunteer driver) and Sophie Friedman (frequent client).  However, it soon became clear that the most meaningful and significant messages would not be found in separate articles detailing their unique personal histories or contributions to the world at large.  Rather, the true inspirational lessons can be learned when Bill and Sophie are together.  After all, our drivers and clients do not exist in isolation; the value of our program comes from the interactions that take place between them.  Bill and Sophie are incredible people each worthy of recognition in his/her own right, but there is great poignancy in their time alongside one another.  Their special connection illustrates the compelling power of driver-client pairs.

Bill gently escorts Sophie to the door.

Bill is well-known around the Volunteer Transportation office because of his immaculate mileage sheets.  His clear printing and precision undoubtedly stem from his years as an architect, and his systematic way of thinking also translates to the way in which he carefully calculates the pick-up time for each of the 3-4 rides he takes on per week.  He has even created his own complex form that he uses to compute ride times/distances and record information about clients.  He explains, “It’s complicated in a way that I understand complications.”

Bill describes Sophie as “96 going on 60… or maybe even 16!”  She has an adventurous spirit and proclaims, “I love things I’ve never tried before!”   Her lifelong commitment to exploring new frontiers is apparent in the tales she tells about taking her three sons camping every summer for two weeks at a time (while her husband stayed at home) or taking her first nausea-inducing flight from New Jersey to Boston (with a stop in Hartford for refueling) on a propeller plane in 1935.  It must also be noted that Sophie made arrangements for this interview through email.  At 96-years-old, Sophie fully embraces new technology.

Sophie and Bill share a lot in common.  They both enjoy classical music; they both have a grandson named Gus; and they both appreciate good food and social occasions.  But perhaps their most unmistakable similarity is that they both have amazing stories.  When they are together, stories abound.   The time that Bill has spent driving Sophie to numerous medical appointments has allowed them to get to know one another so well that they can prompt each other to talk about their lives (“Tell her about your wife’s orchids”), and they can even finish each other’s stories.  The afternoon passes quickly as they talk about wide-ranging personal and historic topics, and they are surprised to discover that several hours have already passed.   Bill must quickly rush off as he discovers that he will be late to another commitment.

Sophie moved to Seattle from New Jersey (via Florida) two years ago, and she says, “Bill is the best thing that has happened to me in Seattle.”  Bill and his wife, Dee, have been a great source of support for Sophie, and it is evident that Bill is always looking out for her with a watchful and protective eye.  Bill and Sophie are certainly a dynamic duo, and much can be learned from this driver/client partnership filled with mutual respect and admiration.

Calvin Wang is a standout, multi-faceted volunteer.

Calvin Wang has been a Volunteer Transportation driver since January 2009, and he never heads out for a ride without a Sudoku book in his front pocket.  Calvin loves the challenge of this 9 x 9 number puzzle, and he finds it to be a great way to pass the time as he waits for VT clients in doctor’s offices, dental clinics, or hospitals.  He explains, “It teaches you how to use your thinking cap.  It’s all about logic.”


 

Calvin is humble about the impact he has had as a volunteer driver.  He says, “I just do whatever I can to help out.”  He is empathetic and caring as he works with older adults, yet he uses his active mind and critical eye in his volunteer work as well.  Calvin enjoys working with the numbers, lines, and grids that fill the pages of his Sudoku books, but his interactions with Volunteer Transportation clients provide for a more dynamic, personable, meaningful, and memorable way to channel his well-tuned thinking cap.

Meet Jay.  He has lived a very full life.  Prior to retiring as a Boeing engineer in 1995,he once oversaw the complete rebuilding of a plane that had landed on its belly in New Delhi.

It’s easy to talk with Jay Surati, a volunteer driver with Senior Services’ Volunteer Transportation program. He is a wealth of knowledge in a variety of topics; he’s full of fascinating stories; and there’s a notable sense of sincerity, warmth, and spirit behind every statement he makes.  Yet, since volunteering for the VT program in 1996, Jay’s discussions with clients have served as much more than just friendly banter.  These important dialogues have fostered meaningful learning and provided for increased cultural understanding.

Jay is from India.  This is just one layer of his multi-faceted identity, but it comes up very quickly in conversation with passengers --  “as soon as they hear my accent!” he notes.  Typical exchanges include the following questions:
• “Where are you from?” Jay says with a sly smile, ““I always make them guess.  Some of them get it right, but I usually joke and tell them I’m from Italy!”
• “Do you know of any good local Indian restaurants?”  Jay knows of several.
• “Do you know this other specific East Indian volunteer driver?(The mathematician?  The retired teacher?  The musician?  The one with the GPS?”). Jay usually can figure out who it is.  In fact, Jay recruited several of the program’s other Indian volunteer drivers!
• “How do you speak English so well?”  Jay laughs at this last one.  He explains that Indian children begin speaking English in school at a very young age.

But then there are the conversations of a more memorable nature.  He was once taken aback by a 90-year-old woman who was eager to hear his opinions about the current prime minister elections of his home country oh-so-far-away.  With so many television viewing options, he was impressed that she had become engrossed in Indian politics and wanted to learn more from him.

Jay also recalls a particularly poignant moment shortly after September 11, 2001.  In the climate of fear following the attacks, he drove a blind client who expressed true concern for him.  She’d heard tales of dark-skinned men experiencing discrimination, and she wanted to help.  Even though she could not see Jay, she was worried that his foreign origins would make him a target.  He was deeply moved by her empathy and compassion. 

Throughout each of these individual interactions, Jay knows that he is representing his cultural group and helping others to “know who we are.”  He says, “Maybe someday, one of these clients will tell her grandchildren, ‘This kind fellow from India gave me a ride.’” 

Jay believes that the program has “made my life very rich.”  His volunteer work with Senior Services (first with Meals and Wheels and then the Volunteer Transportation Program) even inspired him to take on other outreach projects with the East Indian community, including a lunch program in Redmond.  Furthermore, it has taught him about the process of “aging gracefully in American culture.”

Jay is evidence of the give-and-take nature volunteer driving.  Even though he asserts that he “does more taking than giving,” it is clear that it is a mutual, reciprocal process.

Jay labels his work as “building bridges.”   Person by person and word by word, he “talks” his way through differences and misconceptions to a place of powerful cross-cultural respect.

Last year, whether driving their own vehicles or agency vans, volunteers from Senior Services’ Transportation Program covered over 568,255 miles and donated 55,444 hours of their time. After so much valuable service to our community, it was time to celebrate!

Cindy Zwart, Director, commends volunteers for their generosity and kindness.

The Transportation Driver Appreciation Luncheon provided the opportunity for us to express our gratitude (once again) for the dedication and contributions of our compassionate volunteers. As our drivers from throughout King County gathered together, they built community with one another, recognized their collective accomplishments, and reinforced their commitment to helping local seniors.
 

Joy Kamstra receives recognition for her impressive 25 years as a volunteer driver.

Cindy Zwart, Transportation Program Director, opened up the event by speaking about random acts of kindness, or "selfless acts performed by a person wishing to either assist or cheer up an individual person." She informed the volunteer drivers, "Whether it be simply holding the door open for a slow-moving client who uses a walker to get around, taking the time to listen to the stories of a senior who is homebound and isolated, or making extra stops at a pharmacy or grocery store, just being there to offer a helping hand, friendly conversation, or moral support means the world to our clients."


Jack Langlais proudly displays his door prize.

After Cindy's heartfelt reflection, we honored drivers celebrating milestone anniversaries. Volunteers who’d been with the program for 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years were presented with tokens of appreciation, allowing us to recognize their outstanding service and lasting positive impact. Door prizes were given to lucky drivers, helping create an atmosphere of anticipation and excitement.

All in all, it was a memorable and uplifting occasion—one clearly embedded with the themes of celebration, appreciation, and inspiration.


 

We’d like to thank the following sponsors who helped made this successful event possible: Garlic Jim’s, Walgreen’s, Office Depot, Seattle Chocolates, Vince’s Italian Restaurant and Pizza, Highline Medical Center, Ivar’s Seafood Restaurant, PCC Natural Markets, Starbucks, Washington Dental Service, QFC, Regence, Trident Seafood, Tim Cascade Snacks, Snoqualmie Casino, Virginia Mason Hospital and Medical Center, Donald and Teresa Benedict, Tulalip Casino, and Amtrak. Their support reminds us that our volunteers deserve the very best!

Who wouldn't be inspired by this bunch of friendly, caring volunteers?!



**An extensive array of photos from the Appreciation Luncheon can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30402612@N03/sets/72157632240966844/show/.

The driving team strikes a pose.

Volunteering is clearly a win-win-win situation for Sara, her family, and the clients of Volunteer Transportation.  On an individual level, she speaks about gaining humility, lots of incredible knowledge about the area’s history (via stories that passengers share with her), and a better understanding/appreciation of aging.  Her son and daughter acquire firsthand experience with helping others, and clients of the program find it enriching to spend time with amusing children who brighten up their days.  Collectively, they make friends of all ages.

Ron is uncertain what he’d be doing if he weren’t driving with Volunteer Transportation each week (“probably wasting time on the computer!” he exclaims), but he knows that it is time well spent.  I’m certain that all of his Federal Way passengers would agree!

Kiri Igloi is an energetic woman.  Active and sharp, she gardens, participates in several reading clubs, and spends time with her daughters.  But she really gets her kicks by driving seniors to medical appointments with the Volunteer Transportation Program.

A retired flight attendant, Kiri says she missed the “get-up-and-go” of flying around the country when she stopped working five years ago.  Suddenly, there didn’t seem to be much possibility for “new” in her day-to-day life.  Then she found Volunteer Transportation.  

“Volunteer Transportation takes me new places every week,” Kiri says.  “I love driving seniors to new clinics and hospitals, exploring the different neighborhoods around Seattle and the South End.  I’ll do it until I become a customer.”

Kiri is a much-needed member of the program’s South King County volunteer force.  Along with her husband, Karl, she consistently provides rides every Monday and is flexible in being sent wherever she’s needed.  She could be labeled as the Highline area’s “Monday go-to gal.”

South King County Program Coordinator, Shelani Vanniasinkam, describes Kiri as very “friendly and warm.”  She explains, “I get lots of requests to ride with her because clients love Kiri!” 

It is this adventurous outlook, boundless energy, and memorable warmth that make Kiri such an inspirational volunteer.  We know that Kiri’s pathway in life will never be dull, and we are grateful that she’s able to share her gifts as she is “on the go” as a volunteer driver.

 Jeanne was shopping for fabric in Bellevue when she noticed a flyer announcing the need for volunteer drivers.  She decided that since she couldn’t take her own mother to the doctor, this opportunity would be the perfect fit.  Sixteen years later, Jeanne’s still hooked.  Once per week, she picks up seniors at their homes, waits with them at their appointments, and then takes them home again.

Yet, there’s something a little different about Jeanne as a volunteer driver.  One might first notice her “luvmydg” license plate, or perhaps one might discover a puppy in the back seat.  That is because, in addition to driving Eastside seniors to their medical appointments, Jeanne trains guide dogs.  She has found that Senior Services’ Transportation Program allows her to combine two of her passions: training guide dogs and helping older adults.  There is often a puppy in the car as she drives clients to their appointments.

“The people I meet are so grateful for a ride, and I’ve never had a senior say no to a dog on a ride,” Jeanne says.  “You really feel like you’re making a difference right then, not sometime down the line.  You can see it on their faces.”

Outside of these volunteer roles, Jeanne is a busy woman.  She has teenage grandkids, loves to sew, and spends quite a bit of her time traveling. With so many interests and activities, it would be easy for Jeanne to become “dog-tired.”  However, she keeps up with it all with steadfast dedication and vigor.  It is clear that Jeanne does not “lead a dog’s life!”

By Brady Wright

Some say all good things come to an end, but those milestones are worth noting when they go by.  We are blessed to have had so many years of service and dedication from Gene Moon, our very first volunteer driver for the Hyde Shuttle in Des Moines, especially since Gene has decided to retire this month.  It’s not often that we can celebrate a first, but Gene was not only the first volunteer driver for the Des Moines/ Normandy Park Hyde Shuttle, he was the first volunteer driver in the entire system.

Gene has been an indispensable driver for nearly 15 years.

With Gene taking it easy, we now have a terrific opportunity for the next superstar volunteer to step up in Des Moines.  Driving for the Hyde Shuttle is a great way to give back to the community and help your friends and neighbors get to and from the places they want to go!  As Gene can tell you, it’s only a few hours a week, and all the training is provided.  No special license is needed and all you have to do is call Brady Wright at the Activity Center to apply at 206-878-2066.  You can email direct to bradyw@seniorservices.org if you have any questions.  We currently need at least two drivers, but more would help this wonderful service to expand even more!

When Deeon Kuspert began her role as a volunteer driver, a gallon of gas cost $1.09; movie tickets cost $2.75; and a US postage stamp cost 22 cents.  28 years later, a lot has changed…. But Deeon is still serving with Senior Services’ Volunteer Transportation program!

Deeon can’t think of anything she’d rather do than drive local seniors to their appointments.  Over the years, she has built up quite the camaraderie with people she drives.  Each week, Deeon picks up Covington/Maple Valley clients at their homes and drives them to the doctor. 

Deeon loves the flexibility of the program; every year, she spends two months in Arizona and resumes volunteering when she returns to Covington/Maple Valley.  She also gets to choose the days and times she volunteers, and where she wants to drive. 

We are glad that Deeon has stuck with the program for so long and commend her for the huge difference she has made in her community.  A lot may have happened in our world during Deeon’s time with Volunteer Transportation, but her positive impact has remained consistent throughout these 28 years.