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.

Volunteer driver, Louise Mnich

“You just never know who you might meet on a volunteer ride!” says Volunteer Transportation driver Louise Mnich.  She has given many rides since she joined the program’s volunteer force in September 2013 and met many amazing seniors along the way.   But there is one client who stands out above the others.  That person is Virginia Hamilton.

Like Louise, Virginia loves Volunteer Transportation and has had countless memorable rides since she became a client in 2011.  She regularly praises all of the program’s volunteer drivers and often calls them her “angels.”  Yet, the fateful ride that she recently received from Louise was different from all the rest.  In fact, the 96-year-old describes the day Louise took her to Seattle’s PacMed Clinic from her home in Bellevue as one of the best days of her life!

The ride started out like any other, and Virginia could quickly tell that she liked Louise.  They had so much in common; they shared many of the same interests (they even liked the same radio talk show host); and they talked as if they’d known each other for years.  The tone of the conversation changed drastically, though, when Louise recognized some of the names Virginia mentioned.  Louise asked, “Are you related to Larry Hamilton?”

Larry Hamilton was her mother’s cousin.  He survived the Bataan Death March and became a POW at the Cabanatuan Camp, where he was later shipped to Manchuria, China.  He completed manual labor as a Japanese POW in Manchuria for 43 months and lived to tell harrowing tales of survival.  After the war, he spent several weeks with Louise’s grandmother (Larry’s aunt) in LA after being released from a military hospital in San Francisco, and Louise met him much later as a teenager growing up in Southern California.  Larry was a true inspiration to her… and he was also Virginia’s late husband!

“Talk about serendipity!” Louise exclaims as she recounts their conversation.  She and Virginia compared notes about their family (including times that they’d possibly met in the past) and rehashed all of Larry’s war stories.  Virginia was surprised at how much Louise knew about her deceased husband, and she was able to fill in some of the gaps.

Louise writes, “Meeting Larry as a teenager made a lasting impression on me.  He told one touching story about a Japanese doctor at a POW camp in Manchuria.  Larry was seriously ill with spinal meningitis.   At great risk to himself, the Japanese doctor obtained and administered medicine to Larry, which saved his life.”  This real-life parable demonstrated that goodness can be found in all people, even during situations that bring out the worst of them, and it had always stuck with Louise as one of life’s most important lessons.  Virginia was able to update the story: She and Larry later returned to Japan and, remarkably, found that same Japanese doctor!  They were able to throw him a party and thank him for saving Larry’s life.

An image from the Bataan Death March

Louise and Virginia also reflected about Larry’s time in the Bataan Death March.  Virginia described how he was able to stay alive because of the survival skills he’d acquired as a Boy Scout in Arizona, helping him to conserve resources.  Larry’s ordeal had often crossed Louise’s mind.  She explains, “When I was in the Navy, I was stationed in the Philippines and got to see where the last of the American forces fought on Corregidor, the roadways used during the Bataan Death March, and the first Philippine POW camp.  It was moving for me to think I had a relative who lived through all of that.  Unfortunately, Larry died while I was living in the Philippines, so I was never able to share my later experiences with him.”  Spending time with Virginia allowed Louise to explain her own emotional connection to Larry’s arduous journey.

When Virginia reached the clinic, her blood pressure was lower than it has been in years.  “It was because of happiness!” she states.  “Being so happy made me healthier.”

Both Louise and Virginia report that they are thrilled to have found one another, and they are currently working to restore old family ties.  Louise says, “Virginia is an interesting woman in her own right, and I look forward to getting to know her better and learn about her life as well.”

We often use the tagline “Rides change lives,” and this statement rings true for both Louise Mnich and Virginia Hamilton.  A seemingly ordinary trip to the doctor had extraordinary implications for both of them, transforming their lives in a profoundly meaningful way.

Volunteer Driver Preserves Art of Letter Writing

Volunteer Transportation drivers often employ a myriad of technological tools to keep themselves occupied as they patiently wait for seniors during medical appointments.  Many use ipads , Kindles, smart phones, or laptops to pass the time in waiting rooms throughout King County.  But Shari Hanbey, who has been a volunteer driver for six years, doesn’t require any modern devices for downtime during the rides she provides for local seniors.  All she needs is a pen and paper.  

Shari is devoted to the art of letter writing, and that is an understatement.   She typically sends out over 20-25 letters per month to people in places throughout the USA and world.  Her husband’s role in the military meant that they lived in 16+ locations (both domestic and overseas) during his 27 years of active duty, and Shari keeps all friendships alive with handwritten messages.  Each one averages to be about two pages of updates and news—both good and bad.   She admits that her letters aren’t works of art, but they are full of love.

Shari values connections and knows that getting a letter in the mail is more special than receiving an email, a text message, or a Facebook post.  She notes all anniversaries and birthdays on her perpetual calendar and makes sure to compose a given message about 6 days ahead of time.  Her dedication to letter writing was so strong that she was even asked to send all correspondences for her women’s group.   As if this weren’t enough to keep her busy, she also sends out thank you notes for all good deeds and has 170 families on her Christmas card list.  She works hard to stay in touch with people who’ve been a part of her life. 

Shari has received support in her letter writing efforts.  One friend, a self-proclaimed garage sale addict, recently spent an entire year buying any letterhead or stationery she could find.  She gave Shari a huge collection of it for Christmas, and they joked about how long it would take her to go through it all.  Shari reports that it is almost gone.  

Whether she is kindly escorting a senior into a clinic or carefully choosing the right words to wish a friend a happy birthday, Shari is thoughtful in all that she does.  Serving as a volunteer driver allows her to combine several important acts: serving others, building relationships, and letting people know how much she cares.  Shari Hanbey does all three as she volunteers— both in person and on paper.

Today's post is a video for your viewing enjoyment.  The woman featured in this short film is reminiscent of so many of our volunteer drivers, and her story touches on many themes of our programs.

Tom Melchior: 12/31/1935 to 1/28/2014

On Wednesday of this week, we received the sad news that Tom Mechior had passed away.   Tom had served as a faithful and admirable volunteer driver of the Hyde Shuttles in Des Moines for over three years, although he had very recently given up this role as he prepared for a pending move to the Philippines to live in the new home that he and his wife, Mercy, had built.  It just wasn’t meant to be.

Brady Wright, Community Outreach Specialist for the Hyde Shuttles in Des Moines, wrote the following in an email about Tom, “Everyone who knew Tom is aware of how much he cared about our riders and everyone involved in the program, as well as how he was a genuinely warm human being and husband… Tom was a terrific man and a good friend.  He will be missed.” 

Sue Padden, Senior Services Manager for the City of Des Moines, commented on Tom’s wonderful singing voice, excellent dancing skills, gentleness, and huge heart.  She also fondly recalled his well-earned nickname of “Tex.”  She remarked, “‘Tex’ and I used to talk a lot about Texas-- its food and music.  I can see him now, under the ‘big sky,’ singing a Johnny Cash song with that beautiful smile on his face…..and that darn University of Texas Longhorn hat on his head!”

We are grateful for Tom/Tex’s years of compassionate service with the Hyde Shuttles, and we feel very fortunate that he was a part of our program.  He and his family are certainly on our minds and in our hearts.

It’s no secret that we are in great need of new Hyde Shuttle volunteer drivers in Burien and Des Moines/Normandy Park (and could use additional volunteer divers in Shoreline as well).  I’m hesitant to use the term “crisis,” but the situation is certainly far from ideal.  There are often times during which the shuttles are unable to operate because of holes in the weekly driver schedules-- forcing seniors and folks with disabilities to scramble to find other ways to get to their necessary errands and outings.
 
But we’re working very hard to turn this gloomy state of affairs around!  We recently kicked off our Active Volunteer Campaign to reach new potential volunteers looking for an enjoyable and meaningful way to spend their time.  This recruitment venture highlights the many diverse interests and hobbies of our volunteers.  Brady from Des Moines kindly agreed to step in as our model volunteer driver, and the flyers feature Brady taking part in a variety of activities—from playing tennis, to drinking lattes, to playing Frisbee, to playing his guitar, to riding his motorcycle.  (Residents of Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, and Shoreline, please look out for them around town!). 

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.

We recently posed the following question to our Des Moines Hyde Shuttle volunteer drivers: What is the best thing about driving the Hyde Shuttle?   

• Alan M. –  “Driving is a great thing!  Some of the most fun is just taking a client to visit a friend or go to the waterfront for the afternoon.”
• Tom M. –  "I so enjoy interacting with the seniors and their past experiences.  They are so thankful and show much appreciation for the Senior Services being provided to them.”
• Scott E. –  “I enjoy the feeling of be able to help those who need help. I enjoy the driving and connecting with our riders.”
• Tom E. –  
• “I enjoy getting to know some of the elderly and hearing their stories of life.”
• “I feel more appreciation for the little we do to make their lives easier than I ever did in all my years of work.”
• John M. –  “It makes me feel like I am making a difference and it gives me something to do with my time.”
• Jerry M. –
• “Driving for me is an obligation of my civic duty to help others who may not be able to help themselves.”
• “I enjoy the time, but I feel a strong responsibility as an able bodied adult to volunteer as long as I can.”
• Bonnie T. -  
• “I like hearing stories the seniors share from their past."
• "I like that our riders are so polite and appreciative of our service.”

Many of us describe the act of volunteering as a way of “giving back” to our community.  Helping others reminds us of the idea that we’re “all in this together,” and that we are all a part of a larger web of interdependence.  Within this integrated framework, at times, we are the ones reaching out to help others; at other times, we are the ones reaching out for help in moments of vulnerability.

Several members of our Volunteer Transportation community are evidence of this fact.  There are drivers who have become clients and clients who have become drivers within our team.  Their role reversals have helped them to gain a greater understanding of our program from multiple perspectives.

Georgette C. was once a volunteer driver and is now a regular client.  She says, “I have been on both sides of the program… When I was a driver, I could see how appreciative the riders were.  They were always so grateful, and they made me want to be there.   And now I appreciate all of my volunteer drivers!  I need the program so badly now.  I adore the program.  I enjoyed driving, and now I enjoy being a rider.” 

Georgette reports that she was not surprised when she eventually had to give up volunteering to become a client herself.  She explains, “I was so sorry I couldn’t keep up driving anymore, but I always knew I would become a rider.  I felt as though I were ‘paying’ as a driver, yet I would be ‘collecting’ later down the road.” 

Peter O. recently made the opposite switch.  He explains, “I required a colonoscopy and needed a ride to Bellevue last March.  My driver was a very pleasant young woman, who called ahead, arrived on time, and waited while I had the procedure.  I was impressed!”  He was so impressed that he “felt it was time to pay back” and soon submitted an online application to become a volunteer driver.  He has given many rides thus far and says, “Each of them has been a positive experience.”

Pat P. has a similar story and notes, “I originally used VT after a bilateral knee replacement.  I needed help in getting to my appointments as I live alone and family were busy with their careers and personal activities, so this was definitely a godsend.  … I’ve now been a volunteer driver for 7 years and love most of my drives.  I meet incredible people...”

Some call it karma; others call it “paying it forward” or “paying it back;” others call it a civic duty.  Whatever we choose to call this phenomenon, it is clear that we all participate in becoming mutually indebted to one another-- whether as a client or as a driver (or both).  We all work together for the common good.

In February, we published a cheesy poem honoring our Volunteer Transportation drivers.  We feel that it is now time to do the same for the amazing volunteers and staff of the Hyde Shuttle program.

Here is our "Ode to Hyde Shuttles" (from a client perspective):

I was unable to get out and about on my own,
and I grew tired and bored at home all alone.
I wistfully dreamed of a way to break free
from the same four walls constantly surrounding me.

I was then informed of a shuttle called Hyde
that I could use if I ever needed a ride.
The van would pick me up at my home
and take me anywhere I wanted to go.

Registration was just a phone call away,
so I called to get started the very next day.
It was so easy to sign-up it was hard to believe;
I felt like there wasn’t anything I couldn’t achieve!

The shuttle came to pick me up at my front door,
and, just like that, I had a whole new world to explore.
I was able to go to the Senior Center, doctor’s, and store—
as well as the beauty parlor, a friend’s home, library, and more.

I felt very alive, empowered, and carefree;
there was so much more to do than just watch TV!
I’m no longer painfully limited in what I can do;
there are many new hobbies and activities to pursue.

The drivers are all courteous and as nice as can be;
they really strive to take good care of me.
They gingerly help me get into the van with care
and don’t mind that I need to stay in my wheelchair.

It’s hard to know how to effectively convey
all of the gratitude and positive things I want to say,
but I hope that ending with this statement will do:
Hyde Shuttle team, I truly appreciate you!

On May 7, the Mayor and City Council of Federal Way devoted a portion of their meeting to honoring volunteers from two Senior Services’ programs: Meals on Wheels and Volunteer Transportation.  Cindy Zwart, Director of the Transportation Program, highlighted the significant impact both VT drivers and MOW volunteers have on the Federal Way community.  She reported that there are currently 29 active Federal Way volunteer drivers, who transported 67 area seniors to various appointments in 2012. Another 18 volunteers supported Meals on Wheels in various ways (calling and computer recording in the office, packing, and driving/delivering the meals) to deliver 16,795 nutritious meals to 87 Federal Way seniors.   Mayor Priest was quick to point out, though, that these numbers mean nothing compared to the life-changing benefits experienced by clients of these programs on an individual level; there is no way to quantify the value of such assistance.

Cindy echoed these sentiments in her remarks.  She shared, "I have been working at Senior Services for over 22 years now, but I started out as a volunteer driver, and I know first-hand the dramatic impact our volunteers have on the lives of seniors in King County who would be unable to get to essential medical appointments or eat nutrition meals without the personalized service provided by our volunteers...  None of our volunteers expect any thanks or recognition for what they do, but I think it is important to recognize the invaluable contributions they make to their community, to recognize the profound and positive impact they have on all the seniors whose lives they touch during the course of their volunteer duties..."

 Thus, the “Volunteer Spotlight” event allowed the City of Federal Way to publicly express its gratitude for the unique and  important work of our volunteers.   It was a humbling and uplifting occasion.

Meals on Wheels /Volunteer Transportation volunteers and staff pose with the Federal Way Mayor and City Council.

It was quite a pleasant surprise when this "thank you" tin arrived. Inside,we discovered three different varieties of cookies.

To the mysterious person who ordered Mrs. Fields' cookies and kindly had them delivered to our Volunteer Transportation driver gathering in Auburn yesterday, we sincerely thank you for these tasty treats!  We have thoroughly enjoyed them.  Yum!

We had a great time talking about our experiences as volunteer drivers, but it was made even better by this sweet gift.

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.

Like many of the volunteers, Shanta G. welcomed me into her home as I delivered her award in Seattle.



Rhonda J. was one of the first Shining Star recipients that I visited in South King County.

I know that I sound like a broken record when I say that we love our volunteers! But it’s so very true. We greatly appreciate each and every one of them; we recognize that each volunteer driver has a truly distinct and significant impact on the lives of others. It is for this reason that we do not believe in selecting one specific "standout" volunteer as a "volunteer of the month" or a "volunteer of the year." They are all special and admirable people.

However, with that said, we do believe in acknowledging the longstanding commitment of specific volunteers who have demonstrated steadfast dedication to volunteer driving. We objectively honor those who have offered years’ worth of service to our clients over particular periods of time.

Within the past few months, I’ve had the unique privilege of delivering beautiful Barone Crystal "Shining Star" awards to several volunteers who have driven for our program for the past 15 years. I’ve felt a little bit like the Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol as I’ve made appearances at their front doors with these elegant tokens of appreciation.

As I’ve interacted with these long-term volunteers, I’ve been humbled and inspired. They have so many wonderful stories to share from their years of experience, and they still continue to find new lessons to be learned from each ride they give and each client they meet.

Each of our volunteers—new or old-- is a "star" in his/her own way, but our impressive "Shining Stars" serve as great reminders of the constant need for transportation, the continual growth of volunteers, and the self-perpetuating nature of doing good deeds.

Congratulations to them all!

~Hilary

Both our Volunteer Transportation and Hyde Shuttle programs provide equally valuable services to senior residents of King County, while offering fun and worthwhile ways for volunteer drivers to spend their time.  Although Hyde Shuttles can be found in 13 areas of the County, volunteer drivers run the routes in Shoreline/Lake Forest Park, Burien, and Des Moines.  They are a small but mighty bunch, and riders of the shuttles adore them. 

Here is the account of one such enthusiastic passenger:

“I love the Hyde Shuttle.  I would be very devastated if I didn’t have access to the program.  If I couldn’t ride the shuttle, I wouldn’t be able to get out and interact with other people my age at the Senior Center.  This is so important to me.  I’m always making new friends, and I really need socialization.  My life would be so boring if I didn’t have this opportunity.  Without that activity, I would feel lost and grow tired of watching TV so much.   Even weekends seem long.  I love meeting new people and making them feel comfortable. ..

Getting out also helps me with my mental agility.  I forget things a lot, and I’ve been told that I’m in the early stages of dementia.  I really think going to activities helps me keep my mind from getting weaker...I don’t know what I’d do without the program because I have balance problems and cannot use other transportation options…

The shuttles are all very nice and are in good condition.  The seats are also very comfortable, and I can come on in my wheelchair…

 The drivers are all so courteous and kind.  I appreciate them so much… I have every confidence in the world in them.  They all deserve a gold medal!!”

~~Carolyn A.,  regular Hyde Shuttle client

Three cheers (and a gold medal) for all Hyde Shuttle volunteer drivers!!

Our volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds with a wide diversity of life experiences. Not only do we enjoy hearing more about who they are, but we also appreciate the assortment of reasons that explain why they’re here. The following are some of the stories that drivers from both the Volunteer Transportation and Hyde Shuttle programs have shared with us:

"These services are lifelines for people. If these clients didn’t get out and about, they might vegetate mentally and physically.  It's a valuable service, and I wanted to be a part of it."

"I just wanted something helpful to do to fill my time during retirement."

"I am lucky because I currently have good health and fairly good physical capabilities (knock on wood!). I wanted to help others who may not have the same abilities; I don’t want to take them for granted."

"My mother is 90-years-old and lives in Detroit. Because I’m not able to help her out with her daily routines and activities, I wanted to serve other seniors here in the Seattle area."

"My wife works in a hospital and noticed that clients who had 15-minute radiation appointments often had to take over 5 hours of their time to get to and from the medical facility. I wanted to help out so that people wouldn’t have to wait so long."

"I knew that I’d be working with inspiring people. I hope that I’m as determined as they are when I’m older."

"My parents have both passed away. I’m volunteering in their honor."

Regardless of what initially compelled them to volunteer,  we hope that they discover more and more reasons to keep driving, week after week and year after year.

By Joyce Foy, Kirkland Driver

Taking time to appreciate the moment.

Volunteer driving for Senior Services has been quite an experience, and one ride in particular will stay with me forever.

I picked Frances up in Kirkland and drove her to her scheduled doctor appointment.  On the way home she asked if I would mind if we swung by a new French bakery in town.

It was one of “those days” for me – my to-do list was a mile long and my first thought was, “No way, I just don’t have the time.”  But then I decided, “Well, it’s only a couple of miles out of the way, how long could it take?”

When we arrived at the bakery I parked the car and helped her into the store with her walker.  Instead of getting something to go, as I had assumed she would, she ordered a French pastry and coffee and offered to buy me whatever I wanted.

Uh oh, this wasn’t going to be a real quick stop.  I began to mentally reschedule my plans for the day.

The bakery was packed and all seats were taken.  Even though Frances was using a walker, no one volunteered a seat.  Wondering how she could eat balancing French pastry, coffee and a walker, we decided to go outside where there were some chairs set up on the sidewalk.  We scooted our chairs up to a retaining wall which became our makeshift table.

Frances was amazing.  She was so appreciative of everything.  It was a sunny but cold day.  Frances saw the sunshine.  She remarked on the birds eating nearby and the flowers that were so pretty, the delicious pastry, and the great coffee.  She never mentioned the goose bumps we were both experiencing from the chilly temperature or the fact that no one offered her a seat inside.

We sat and talked and enjoyed each others’ company.  My to-do list wouldn’t get done, but it didn’t seem to matter much now.  Frances was so happy just to be out and doing something new, and I was feeling quite blessed to be in the company of someone so positive.

At last, it was time to go.  She looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, “I can’t thank you enough.  This meant the world to me.  Tomorrow I will turn 92, and this is my birthday celebration.”

My to-do list lost all its importance and I hugged my new friend.

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!”