Nearly 30 Years On, Ride Connection Is Still Moving

PORTLAND, OR — Ride Connection is an important service for thousands of people in the metro region, annually providing roughly 500,000 rides for adults over 60 and folks with disabilities (primarily). Established in May 1988, Ride Connection is nearing its 30th anniversary; to celebrate that milestone, it's hoping to raise $1 million by June 30, 2018.

To do so, it needs the community's support.

Helping to illustrate just what Ride Connection means to those who use it, and to truly express why donating to the local nonprofit is a good investment, longtime Ride Connection volunteer driver Charlie Morris offered his own testimonial in a video published on the organization's YouTube channel in 2015 — the year Ride Connection's Board of Directors announced its ambitious $1 million goal.

Having volunteered with Ride Connection for the past 26 years, Morris has many stories to share about the changes he's seen in the metro area and the people he's helped in his capacity as a driver.

From a growing populace and new developments to increasingly terrible metro area traffic and greater rider demand, Morris has apparently seen quite a lot. Back in 1993, when Morris first started volunteering, Ride Connection offered about 15,000 rides per year, Ride Connection spokeswoman Lydia Corran said. Now Morris is helping to accommodate roughly half a million rides alongside 97 paid employees and roughly 350 volunteer drivers from about 30 different partner organizations.

"We could not afford to do what we do without our volunteers," Corran told Patch in an email. "The need for transportation in the area is so great that we are unable to fulfill more than 40,000 of the rides requested annually. Unfortunately, this number will continue to increase as Portland's population continues to grow and age."

Despite the changes, however, Morris said one constant has been riders' appreciation for the service he offers — and that's what keeps him coming back year after year.

"Our volunteer drivers have so much kindness and patience," Corran explained. "If you like to drive, this is an excellent way to help people. One-on-one interaction coupled with the physical act of dropping someone at their destination (or back home) can be extremely rewarding."

(Volunteer drivers can use their own vehicles or one of Ride Connection's minibuses or minivans, Corran said.)

For Morris, Corran said, it's people like Waldo Johnson that really make it all worthwhile.

Morris twice a week for many years drove Johnson to a Meals on Wheels site where he volunteered. Sadly, Johnson passed away recently at the ripe age of 104.

"Part of this job is saying goodbye every once and awhile," Morris told Corran. "It's tough, but I'm happy to know that I helped Waldo… I like that I can use my time to help people. It's a way for them to get out and have experiences."

In order for Morris and other volunteers to keep Ride Connection moving, the organization depends on state and federal transit funding — typically administered by TriMet and the Oregon Department of Transportation — to pay the organization's bills and nearly 100 paid Ride Connection employees.

In 2015, however, Ride Connection officials came up with a plan to augment their funding stream by the nonprofit's 30th year by raising $1 million — triple what they typically raise each year. And since setting the goal, Ride Connection has raised $800,000 from businesses and other foundations as well as private citizens.

"Funds raised during this campaign will be put into our services, providing rides to try and meet these growing needs," Corran said. "$1 million can provide about 55,000 one way rides.

"Due to the increasing need for our services, our growth plan is always focused on meeting those needs," Corran continued. "We work to incorporate technology and partnerships in order to provide the most we can with what we have. In short, we hope to grow right along with the need so that more people don't have to go without a way to get where they need to go."

With only $200,000 left to raise in roughly eight months, the push for donations is on.

"We're hoping to use some of the excitement and momentum of our anniversary to increase donations," Corran said. "And we're hoping it will gain us some more supporters as well."

"More and more, individuals in our region see transportation as a critical need, especially for people with disabilities and older adults who have few or no other options," Executive Director Elaine Wells said in a statement. "That's good news for us because with additional funding we can help more people in need."

To donate, or to learn how you can become a volunteer driver, visit Ride Connection online at rideconnection.org.

Watch: Ride Connection volunteer driver Charlie Morris

Top Image: Ride Connection volunteer driver Charlie Morris (right) helps his longtime friend Waldo Johnson to the car so Morris can take him to Meals on Wheels, where Johnson volunteered before his recent passing at 104 years old.