By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Three local agencies have teamed up in an effort to entice new volunteer drivers to their ranks.
The collaboration, including Family Service Kent, NeighbourLink and the Canadian Cancer Society’s Wheels of Hope, is looking to recruit drivers who can offer a lift to someone in need.
Seniors and low-income residents, people with disabilities and individuals facing cancer treatment and recovery are among those who rely on volunteers to drive them to a range of services – from medical appointments to grocery shopping.
According to Family Service Kent volunteer and wellbeing co-ordinator Marjorie Crew, the unique partnership between agencies is an effort to “drive” volunteer recruitment in the community.
Similar to other agencies, volunteer drivers are in demand at FSK.
“The need for volunteers has grown, but our efforts to gain volunteers in this area have not kept pace for all our agencies,” Crew said in a media release. “Therefore, we decided to join together in a campaign to share our opportunities for volunteer driving and the impact it has.”
Canadian Cancer Society volunteer recruiter Mark Kahan, who started as a volunteer driver with the organization, said being a driver is rewarding.
“I was really humbled by how grateful people are to a stranger for driving them to an appointment,” Kahan told The Voice. “If you volunteer with us, you are literally making a difference…if someone can’t find a ride to treatment, for example, they don’t go.”
According to Kahan, C-K’s Wheels of Hope only has five volunteer drivers at present and they’d like to add another 10 to give regular drivers a break.
“We want to ensure that everybody in C-K who needs a ride will get one,” he added, noting demand will rise as cold weather approaches.
It’s the same story at NeighbourLink, said office administrator Katrina Nydam, noting the agency is sometimes unable to fill ride requests as there are no drivers.
“For people who have time during the day, this is a great way to help people in need,” Nydam explained.
In the six-month period from January to June 2025, NeighbourLink provided 370 rides to people in need, including 53 rides outside of Chatham-Kent, mainly for medical treatments.
Each of the non-profits have their own training and support programs for new drivers, with flexible scheduling allowing volunteers to drive as much or as little as they like. Volunteers use their own vehicles and are reimbursed for mileage or provided with fuel gift cards.
To find out more about available volunteer opportunities, contact Family Service Kent at 519-354-6221 or by email at volunteer@familyservicekent.com; NeighbourLink at 519-352-5647 or on the webpage; and CCS Wheels of Hope online at volunteer@cancer.ca.
