Neighbor Ride provides transportation for seniors, plus volunteer opportunities

Two Neighbor Ride staffers say the local nonprofit fills two roles: first, to provide rides for seniors wherever they need to go and, second, to provide a really rewarding, flexible volunteer opportunity to the community. That’s the message Columbia-Patuxent Rotarians heard recently from strategic development director Andrea Bufka and program manager Andrew Burkowske.

They said Neighbor Ride was formed some 22 years ago when a bunch of concerned citizens got together and tried to tackle the issue of transportation for seniors in Howard County. Today it operates on a significant, county-wide scale, with many drivers and clients on the road daily, supporting and extending the work of other local nonprofits as well.

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As the county’s citizenry ages, the need for transportation help is growing. “The older population is starting to outpace the younger population,” Andrea said. “A study in 2022 showed that between 2020 and 2030, the population over 60 would grow by 50%. By 2030 nearly 10,000 residents in Howard County would be 85 or older, and one in five would be 65 or older.”

Those eligible to use Neighbor Ride need to be at least 60 years old, a Howard County resident, and be able to get to and from the car independently, without the use of a wheelchair (walkers, rollators and canes are permssible). Andrew said the maximum mileage for a ride is 35 miles from a client’s residence. About 90% of rides are under 10 miles, while about 60% are under five miles.

“About 50% of our rides are medical rides, but we also go anywhere that a senior needs to get to in their community,” he added. “We do trips pretty much anywhere they want. The only place we don't go is the airport.” Both round trip and one-way rides are available. There is a rate schedule for clients with the ability to pay. Rates vary based on time of day, but they’re still 50% to 75% less expensive than an Uber, taxi, or Lyft.

Based on income, a client could qualify for the Good Neighbor Fund with free transportation. “We also have free rides for veterans through a grant from the TowerCares Foundation, and we have reduced fee rides for vision appointments that's also through a grant,” Andrew stated. About 75% of the program's funding comes from Howard County.

Ride requests, schedules and relevant details are handled by agency staff and volunteers. Prospective drivers can pick those that best match their availability. Drivers must be 21 years of age or older, a compassionate person willing to support others in the community. There’s also a background check, a Maryland driving record check, a personal character reference, and a personal interview. Andrew said the volunteer “sweet spot” is people who recently retired, but “we have volunteers who are in their 20s, volunteers who are in their 80s and everything in between.” Office help is welcome in addition to drivers.

Neighbor Ride is in the middle of a three‑year strategic plan to address bringing in more clients to serve the population, and also to bring in more volunteers. “We’ve seen our needs and our service volume growing almost 15% year over year,” Andrea explained. New moves to spur growth include (1) a smart phone app giving volunteers a better experience and improving client service quality and responsiveness, and (2) marketing that used short videos for outreach and recruitment, plus ads on Facebook and Instagram targeted only to Howard County residents.

Andrea also expressed thanks for Columbia-Patuxent Rotary’s assistance. “I did a little research on our work with Columbia-Patuxent Rotary, and I am really excited to say you have been supporting us for nine years and almost $33,000,” she declared. “I would say, too, that not only are you supporting us financially, but also through the leadership and the networking that you provide to our organization and to many nonprofits here in Howard County.”

Columbia-Patuxent is the largest and most active of the county’s seven Rotary clubs. It meets weekly on Fridays at 7:30 a.m. at JAM Eateries. Visitors are always welcome.