Latest / Community Spotlight / Driving Independence
Transcript
- WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.600 --> 00:00:02.850 <v 0>The Light FM presents Community Spotlight,</v> 2 00:00:02.940 --> 00:00:06.810 a program designed to focus on what's important to you in your community. 3 00:00:07.230 --> 00:00:10.170 Now here's Braxton with today's Community Spotlight. 4 00:00:11.040 --> 00:00:14.070 <v 1>Do you know a senior that wants to stay independent,</v> 5 00:00:14.070 --> 00:00:18.480 but transportation can be an issue? Hi, I'm Braxton. 6 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:19.530 Appreciate you being here. 7 00:00:19.770 --> 00:00:24.660 Nancy Welch from Volunteer Assisted Transportation and Knoxville is 8 00:00:24.660 --> 00:00:25.350 joining us. 9 00:00:25.350 --> 00:00:29.910 Tell me the kind of freedom that simply giving a ride to a 10 00:00:29.910 --> 00:00:33.300 senior or someone disabled can bring them. 11 00:00:34.230 --> 00:00:36.990 <v 2>It not only brings them joy,</v> 12 00:00:37.020 --> 00:00:39.480 but it also helps them maintain their independence. 13 00:00:40.650 --> 00:00:45.630 So when you think about your car being in the shop or you're having to 14 00:00:45.630 --> 00:00:48.900 do without your car, that's taking your independence away. 15 00:00:48.900 --> 00:00:53.040 You're having to rely on somebody else. Yes, they're having to rely on us, 16 00:00:53.040 --> 00:00:56.700 but they can still get out and go to medical appointments. 17 00:00:56.700 --> 00:00:58.680 They can go to wherever they need to go. 18 00:00:59.880 --> 00:01:04.500 It also helps them thrive to be able to go out and make these 19 00:01:06.090 --> 00:01:10.290 appointments or make their selections at the grocery store. 20 00:01:11.160 --> 00:01:15.330 Just get out and about and be social and do the things that 21 00:01:15.810 --> 00:01:20.370 we are able to do when we get in our cars and we go freely. 22 00:01:20.370 --> 00:01:23.970 But when you have a disability or when you can no longer drive yourself, 23 00:01:24.810 --> 00:01:28.260 you do have to rely on folks like us to provide that service. 24 00:01:29.140 --> 00:01:33.300 <v 1>And not feel bad for asking a friend or a family member all the time and</v> 25 00:01:33.300 --> 00:01:34.350 inconveniencing them. 26 00:01:34.890 --> 00:01:35.723 <v 2>Right.</v> 27 00:01:37.980 --> 00:01:40.410 <v 1>Alright, so you're based in Knoxville. Tell me how this works.</v> 28 00:01:40.410 --> 00:01:44.010 How does Volunteer assisted transportation operate? 29 00:01:44.760 --> 00:01:47.490 <v 2>Yeah, kind of what our name says is what we do.</v> 30 00:01:48.210 --> 00:01:52.380 We are a volunteer driven program, so we're a volunteer driver program. 31 00:01:52.650 --> 00:01:55.200 We're a nonprofit out of our area 32 00:01:56.790 --> 00:01:58.170 Community Action Committee. 33 00:01:58.680 --> 00:02:03.510 So it's here at our local Knoxville, Knox County, 34 00:02:03.520 --> 00:02:06.240 CAC, community Action. And 35 00:02:07.800 --> 00:02:12.180 we provide one-on-one specialized transportation to Knox County residents. 36 00:02:12.570 --> 00:02:14.310 So they have to be a resident of our county. 37 00:02:15.300 --> 00:02:19.890 And then it's for folks that require aid and assistance to travel safely. 38 00:02:19.890 --> 00:02:23.820 So what that means, if they can no longer take a form or public transportation, 39 00:02:23.820 --> 00:02:27.810 whether it could be a taxi cab at Uber, anything like that, 40 00:02:27.810 --> 00:02:32.280 if they can no longer do that safely, then we are the alternative. 41 00:02:32.640 --> 00:02:37.620 So our program is, when we say specialized, 42 00:02:37.950 --> 00:02:39.480 we use volunteer drivers. 43 00:02:40.050 --> 00:02:43.410 Volunteers volunteer their time to provide the service, 44 00:02:43.410 --> 00:02:46.050 but they use our agency vehicles to provide the service. 45 00:02:46.590 --> 00:02:50.160 So we do on the front end, 46 00:02:50.160 --> 00:02:54.090 we screen our volunteers and do all kinds of background checks and training and 47 00:02:54.090 --> 00:02:58.440 such. So they are vetted to drive our 48 00:02:58.440 --> 00:03:03.400 vehicles and then they transport these folks that are eligible 49 00:03:03.400 --> 00:03:06.430 to use our service, taking them to wherever they need to go, 50 00:03:06.440 --> 00:03:09.610 whether it be a medical appointment, the grocery store, 51 00:03:11.590 --> 00:03:16.390 the pharmacy. It could be errands and shopping. 52 00:03:16.690 --> 00:03:19.420 It could be somewhere social, it could be church. 53 00:03:19.900 --> 00:03:22.660 But how we are different from just, Hey, 54 00:03:22.660 --> 00:03:25.480 I'll drop you at the curb or I'll take you to the door and I'll come back and 55 00:03:25.480 --> 00:03:29.290 get you is we stay with 'em and provide one-on-one assistance, 56 00:03:30.280 --> 00:03:31.750 providing that support, 57 00:03:31.750 --> 00:03:35.020 maybe holding onto an arm or helping with a mobility aid. 58 00:03:35.470 --> 00:03:40.120 We'll stay with 'em at their destination, making sure they get there safe, 59 00:03:40.900 --> 00:03:44.890 they have a safe trip, and then making sure they get home safe as well. 60 00:03:46.810 --> 00:03:49.750 <v 1>Okay. So you said Knox County residents.</v> 61 00:03:49.750 --> 00:03:54.490 Do you take people outside of Knox County and bring them back or what's 62 00:03:54.490 --> 00:03:57.490 your, I guess radius of transportation? 63 00:03:57.730 --> 00:04:00.130 <v 2>We can go across the county line.</v> 64 00:04:00.370 --> 00:04:05.050 We have several of our counties are pretty close by that a lot of the 65 00:04:05.060 --> 00:04:07.930 physicians here locally for whatever reason, 66 00:04:08.260 --> 00:04:10.630 have moved their practice into a different county. 67 00:04:11.020 --> 00:04:14.170 So we can go to an adjacent county, 68 00:04:15.400 --> 00:04:16.480 do charge for the service, 69 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:21.040 so we'll charge an additional fee for going into the county, 70 00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:22.960 or if it's having to go to several counties, 71 00:04:22.960 --> 00:04:26.440 we don't really do any long distance trips per se, 72 00:04:27.100 --> 00:04:30.880 across the state or anything like that. But we can go to an adjacent county. 73 00:04:31.450 --> 00:04:34.690 <v 1>Okay. Now you're a nonprofit. You mentioned cost.</v> 74 00:04:34.900 --> 00:04:38.950 This is just to reimburse for gas, things like that. What is that cost? 75 00:04:38.950 --> 00:04:39.783 Price range. 76 00:04:40.180 --> 00:04:43.990 <v 2>It is $6 round trip and it's round trip.</v> 77 00:04:43.990 --> 00:04:48.430 So they can make additional stops and we do not charge any extra 78 00:04:48.820 --> 00:04:52.420 for additional stops. And our service, 79 00:04:52.690 --> 00:04:57.640 a lot of services out there that are similar to ours across the state may have a 80 00:04:57.650 --> 00:05:00.850 membership fee. We do not have an application or a membership fee. 81 00:05:01.900 --> 00:05:04.960 <v 1>Okay. I love that. So</v> 82 00:05:06.730 --> 00:05:11.170 I bet if you're a driver volunteer, you're, 83 00:05:11.380 --> 00:05:15.790 there's probably some repeat people that you pick up and you're probably able to 84 00:05:15.790 --> 00:05:20.680 create relationships and I bet you it's really a rewarding 85 00:05:20.680 --> 00:05:21.940 thing on both ends. 86 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:25.960 <v 2>It really is. An interesting note about myself.</v> 87 00:05:25.960 --> 00:05:29.890 Before I was hired here, I was a volunteer years ago. 88 00:05:30.340 --> 00:05:34.150 So I've seen both sides and sometimes I still get to go out and do that and see 89 00:05:34.150 --> 00:05:39.040 who we're serving and see our clients. But yes, there are relationships formed. 90 00:05:41.440 --> 00:05:46.360 If the person would like, the volunteer would like to take the same client, 91 00:05:47.680 --> 00:05:50.410 the client can ask for them if they're available. 92 00:05:51.700 --> 00:05:55.720 And sometimes that happens, most definitely friendships, relationships, 93 00:05:55.730 --> 00:05:58.820 and you get to know this person that you're taking. 94 00:05:59.060 --> 00:06:03.860 They share their life with 'em sometimes because this person is the only 95 00:06:03.860 --> 00:06:07.580 person they've seen maybe this week or this month because hey, 96 00:06:07.580 --> 00:06:10.610 they've been inside and now I have to go to a medical appointment, 97 00:06:11.060 --> 00:06:15.380 or I definitely need to go get my groceries for the month or something. 98 00:06:15.380 --> 00:06:19.970 So they have lots to say and they'll share about their 99 00:06:19.970 --> 00:06:23.660 family or what's going on in their lives. So yes, 100 00:06:23.990 --> 00:06:25.550 relationships are formed. 101 00:06:26.840 --> 00:06:31.220 <v 1>I think it's obviously important to have good driving skills,</v> 102 00:06:31.760 --> 00:06:35.810 but also be a sounding board and be a good listening ear. 103 00:06:35.810 --> 00:06:39.650 Somebody that enjoys just connection. And that may not be, 104 00:06:39.950 --> 00:06:43.910 I guess the thing for everybody, but I feel like for most, 105 00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:47.030 they'd enjoy just conversation as they drive down the road. So. 106 00:06:47.480 --> 00:06:49.220 <v 2>They do upon occasion,</v> 107 00:06:49.550 --> 00:06:52.490 depending on what the situation is with the individual. 108 00:06:52.490 --> 00:06:56.360 Sometimes you might not run across somebody that wants to be very 109 00:06:56.360 --> 00:06:57.290 conversational. 110 00:06:57.560 --> 00:07:00.950 Maybe they're not a morning person or maybe they don't feel well, 111 00:07:02.360 --> 00:07:05.870 but yes, a listening ear, maybe they have something on their mind, 112 00:07:06.530 --> 00:07:10.100 or even this day and age, what's in the news, 113 00:07:10.970 --> 00:07:13.790 or God forbid. 114 00:07:13.790 --> 00:07:18.440 But sometimes if a family member or something bad has happened has maybe 115 00:07:19.490 --> 00:07:22.760 we hear about scams and stuff. If something has happened like that, 116 00:07:23.090 --> 00:07:26.960 they might feel comfortable sharing that with our volunteers. 117 00:07:26.960 --> 00:07:30.920 So having a listening ear is very helpful. Sure. 118 00:07:36.830 --> 00:07:37.880 <v 1>I'm going to edit that part out.</v> 119 00:07:37.880 --> 00:07:40.610 I had somewhere I wanted to go and I forgot where I was going with that. 120 00:07:44.120 --> 00:07:47.990 Oh, tell me the need that Knox County has. 121 00:07:48.290 --> 00:07:51.830 How often do you guys used, what kind of, 122 00:07:55.220 --> 00:08:00.100 I guess just what's the need and how often do you guys get out and about? 123 00:08:01.790 --> 00:08:05.000 <v 2>The need is very, it's a very big need here.</v> 124 00:08:08.600 --> 00:08:13.010 Our numbers, covid really affected us, like a lot of other programs out there. 125 00:08:13.730 --> 00:08:17.180 So our numbers are probably half of what they were pre covid, 126 00:08:17.690 --> 00:08:19.250 but we're starting to build back. 127 00:08:19.250 --> 00:08:23.910 But monthly right now we're serving around 128 00:08:25.520 --> 00:08:30.200 a little over 2 50, 2 60 a month, sometimes 300 folks. 129 00:08:30.210 --> 00:08:31.730 Really? That's trips. 130 00:08:32.450 --> 00:08:36.860 Folks that we're serving are about 131 00:08:36.870 --> 00:08:41.150 60 to 70 a month. It used to be about a hundred a month. 132 00:08:41.150 --> 00:08:45.620 That's a lot. Yeah. The need is here. If I had more volunteers, 133 00:08:46.160 --> 00:08:50.930 this is my spiel, if I had more volunteers, we could provide more service, 134 00:08:51.260 --> 00:08:53.300 some more volunteers, more drivers. 135 00:08:53.390 --> 00:08:55.130 They can drive folks to where they need to go, 136 00:08:55.410 --> 00:09:00.150 but the need is here because every day we're aging, 137 00:09:00.750 --> 00:09:05.460 even me and you, Braxton, unfortunately. But the need is here. 138 00:09:06.060 --> 00:09:08.220 People are not driving 139 00:09:10.080 --> 00:09:14.250 or they're stepping away from driving and some are staying more in their home 140 00:09:15.090 --> 00:09:18.030 more longer, and this helps 'em stay in their home longer. 141 00:09:19.350 --> 00:09:22.710 They don't have to worry about, I got to go live with a loved one, 142 00:09:23.010 --> 00:09:25.830 a family member, or maybe some of their family members don't live here, 143 00:09:25.830 --> 00:09:29.940 so that means them packing up their stuff and having to relocate. 144 00:09:31.020 --> 00:09:35.130 But the need is very much here. And I mentioned before, 145 00:09:35.130 --> 00:09:38.010 we take 'em to medical appointments, groceries, pharmacy, 146 00:09:38.010 --> 00:09:41.250 anywhere they want to go social outings. 147 00:09:41.970 --> 00:09:43.620 But it is definitely a need. 148 00:09:44.400 --> 00:09:48.540 A lot of times we use a Google calendar to schedule all of our stuff, 149 00:09:48.540 --> 00:09:52.860 and a lot of times we have to tell people we kind of have to monitor that 150 00:09:52.860 --> 00:09:55.110 because of the number of volunteers. Well, 151 00:09:55.530 --> 00:09:59.460 the days get full sometimes at the first of the month or as it goes down into 152 00:09:59.460 --> 00:10:02.520 the middle of the month, the days are starting to get full, 153 00:10:02.520 --> 00:10:05.610 and you just kind of have to say, well, that day is already booked. 154 00:10:05.620 --> 00:10:09.120 Can you schedule for a different day? So the need is, it's a very big need. 155 00:10:09.960 --> 00:10:14.610 <v 1>Yeah. You're saying that I get older every day.</v> 156 00:10:15.210 --> 00:10:16.650 <v 2>Nancy. Well, that's what they say,</v> 157 00:10:16.650 --> 00:10:21.390 but I hear from these folks that it's not for sissies 158 00:10:21.400 --> 00:10:24.750 either, so I don't want to get old. I don't want to grow up. 159 00:10:25.740 --> 00:10:29.850 <v 1>Yeah, let's go to Neverland. Yeah. All right.</v> 160 00:10:29.850 --> 00:10:33.870 So how can somebody sign up? This is maybe something they're interested in, 161 00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:38.520 and how often if somebody becomes a volunteer, are they needed? 162 00:10:38.520 --> 00:10:40.800 Can they set their schedule based on when they're available? 163 00:10:41.640 --> 00:10:45.390 <v 2>Volunteers can set up their schedule. We use a Google calendar,</v> 164 00:10:45.390 --> 00:10:48.960 but if they wanted to just do one time a month, 165 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:51.240 but if you are very flexible, 166 00:10:52.830 --> 00:10:54.690 you could do every day of the week if you wanted, 167 00:10:54.990 --> 00:10:58.440 but if you just wanted to do one day a week, you could do that as well. 168 00:10:58.500 --> 00:11:02.640 We do provide trips on the weekend. If there's volunteers available, 169 00:11:02.940 --> 00:11:04.110 take folks to church, 170 00:11:04.110 --> 00:11:09.090 or we could even take 'em to the grocery store or wherever they have a 171 00:11:09.090 --> 00:11:12.990 need to go to on the weekend. But to be a volunteer, 172 00:11:12.990 --> 00:11:17.970 you can simply call us or we have a website that has all of our information 173 00:11:17.980 --> 00:11:21.120 on there as well. Our phone number here is 174 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:26.120 (865) 175 00:11:26.120 --> 00:11:26.120 673-5001, 176 00:11:26.880 --> 00:11:30.480 and you can call and request some information on being a volunteer or even if 177 00:11:30.480 --> 00:11:32.550 you need the service here locally. 178 00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:38.130 But our website also has our volunteer information on it is 179 00:11:38.130 --> 00:11:39.210 ww dot 180 00:11:40.440 --> 00:11:45.360 K-N-O-X-S-E-N-I-O-R 181 00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:47.550 s.org. 182 00:11:48.120 --> 00:11:50.550 That's knox seniors.org. 183 00:11:51.990 --> 00:11:53.890 You can go places, 184 00:11:53.890 --> 00:11:58.420 or if you simply want to give us a phone call and we can email or mail you the 185 00:11:58.420 --> 00:11:59.860 information on being a volunteer. 186 00:12:02.440 --> 00:12:04.240 <v 1>That's not seniors.org.</v> 187 00:12:04.930 --> 00:12:05.763 <v 2>Yes.</v> 188 00:12:05.890 --> 00:12:09.730 <v 1>Alright, well, Nancy, hey, this is a huge need. Like you said,</v> 189 00:12:09.730 --> 00:12:13.600 I didn't realize just how big of a need and how many people you guys serve and 190 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:18.250 how many rides you offer to repeat, I guess, writers. 191 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:20.650 So yeah, 192 00:12:20.920 --> 00:12:23.530 thank you for what you do and what you're doing for the community there. 193 00:12:23.890 --> 00:12:28.330 <v 2>Well, thank you. I really appreciate you having me on. And</v> 194 00:12:32.080 --> 00:12:35.020 it is always a need for folks needing transportation. I always, 195 00:12:35.030 --> 00:12:37.120 like I said before, present it as, Hey, 196 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:40.300 what if you didn't have transportation or kind of like when your car's in the 197 00:12:40.300 --> 00:12:44.590 shop or getting fixed or getting maintenance, Hey, 198 00:12:44.590 --> 00:12:49.270 I don't have wheels. It's the same kind of thing. It's kind of a panic. 199 00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:52.240 How do, I'm going to get somewhere. And not everybody knows 200 00:12:53.800 --> 00:12:57.070 the older generation and the elderly, they're not tech savvy, 201 00:12:57.460 --> 00:13:01.630 so they don't know how to dial up an Uber or a Lyft or anything like that. 202 00:13:02.320 --> 00:13:06.250 <v 1>Yeah. Again, the website is knox seniors.org.</v> 203 00:13:06.250 --> 00:13:10.870 She's Nancy Welch with Volunteer Assisted Transportation in 204 00:13:10.870 --> 00:13:12.190 Knoxville, Tennessee. 205 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:16.780 Previous episodes of Community Spotlight are available on our website, 206 00:13:16.870 --> 00:13:19.600 the light fm.org, or on the Light fm app. 207 00:13:19.690 --> 00:13:24.040 You can also give a shout out Pat on the back. And a big thanks to our sponsor, 208 00:13:24.040 --> 00:13:27.400 Turner Business Appraisers there in Matthews, North Carolina, 209 00:13:27.400 --> 00:13:30.730 and you can find their website@turnerbusiness.com. 210 00:13:32.380 --> 00:13:34.510 <v 0>We hope you enjoyed today's community spotlight,</v> 211 00:13:34.520 --> 00:13:37.420 covering issues that matter to you in your community. 212 00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:40.330 If you have a suggestion for a future program, 213 00:13:40.330 --> 00:13:44.230 just call 803 3 0 96 48. 214 00:13:44.410 --> 00:13:48.340 That's 803 3 0 9 6 4 8. 215 00:13:48.790 --> 00:13:52.870 Be sure to join us next week for another community spotlight with Braxton on the 216 00:13:52.870 --> 00:13:53.710 Light fm.