Volunteer Friends

The Volunteer Friends model was designed by the Beverly Foundation of Pasadena, California as a low cost, consumer driven, senior friendly approach for providing transportation to seniors. Under this model, volunteer drivers are recruited by riders in their community. The drivers then use their own vehicles to provide transportation services. Drivers serve as escorts, providing physical and emotional support to riders. Riders coordinate their own rides with drivers, and are provided with funds to reimburse drivers for trip expenses.

In addition to drawing on the best features of existing Supplemental Transportation Programs for seniors (STPs), the design of the Volunteer Friends model was guided by what the Beverly Foundation has labeled the "5 A's of Senior Friendly Transportation." The 5 A's are criteria that seniors and caregivers have identified as critical to efficient and effective transportation for older adults, and are incorporated into the model as follows:

-Availability: The Volunteer Friends transportation service can be used by seniors who have difficulty using traditional forms of public and paratransit.
-Accessibility: Wait times are minimized or totally avoided, and door-through-door and escort service are provided.
-Adaptability: Rides are available for any purpose, any time and anywhere that the rider can arrange with their driver.
-Acceptability: Rides are provided in the comfort and convenience of a private vehicle, and are not provided by a stranger but by the choice of the rider.
-Affordability: Rides are free and drivers are reimbursed for their travel.

The Beverly Foundation's mission is to foster new ideas and options to enhance mobility and transportation for today's and tomorrow's older population.

In February of 2002, an 18-month Volunteer Friends pilot project called PasRide was initiated by the Beverly Foundation. In August of 2003, the pilot was completed and successfully relocated to a permanent administrative setting. The pilot demonstrated a low cost/low maintenance approach for easy adaptation by other communities as a stand-alone program or as part of a menu of services. During the pilot, a complete information packet, called the Volunteer Friends Starter Kit, was developed to assist groups and organizations in its adaptation.

On January 29, 2004 Congressman Howard L. Berman (D-California - 28th District) announced that Congress has approved his request to allocate $50,000 for a pilot Volunteer Friends Senior Transportation Program in Southern California's San Fernando Valley.