Often people with mobility issues, age-related or vision problems have to rely on family and neighbours to get them to medical appointments or to run errants. Barry Adams wants to change that. In connection with the Caring Circle, he proposes to create a pool of volunteers who would offer rides to islanders who need them.
Adams is a retired teacher who has lived on Bowen Island full time for about eight years and has been coming here since the early 60s. He was looking for a volunteer opportunity and the need for people to get rides cropped up. Adams communicated with Colleen O'Neil, the coordinator of the Caring Circle, and set out to enlist volunteers.
"Pam Stimpson [of Seniors Keeping Young] organized something about 10 or 15 years ago," Adam said. "But now it would be easier to set up through the Internet. We would have a central notice board at the Caring Circle where people can email or phone in requests. That information would go to our designated drivers' email list. A volunteer whose situation fits with the request would accept the obligation. Then we would let the rest know that we have it covered."
Adam explained that the volunteers would use their own cars and pay for gas and other transportation-related costs. "We have six volunteers to date and we are looking to have between 10 and 20," Adams said. "We plan to have a meeting and go over the plan of operation."
Of the volunteers that have already stepped forward, many are retired, some go to Snug Cove and Vancouver regularly and Adam thinks a commitment to volunteer two to three hours a month could cover the need.
"Many of us go back and forth into town regularly and could easily fit someone in," he said. He added that the group can be flexible and says it may even involve someone handing over a grocery list because he and she has mobility issues and doesn't want to risk the trip to the store.
But Adams isn't sure how much the service would be used and what destinations would be covered. "We want to assess the demand first," he said. "People need rides for different reasons, whether it is to go to medical appointment or shop for groceries. We are on the test phase right now." To generate awareness of the program, Adam has put notices out to different island groups and welcomes feedback.
To volunteer or provide input, call Adams at 947-9907 or contact the Caring Circle at 947-9100 or [email protected].
"We don't have a taxi and the buses don't go everywhere," Adams said. "We would provide an option for people who are stuck for a ride. Some people face economical challenges or don't have family or neighbours to help them out. We want to be there for people who don't have those connections."
