Eastside Volunteers Urgently Needed to Drive Seniors to Appointments

Senior Services, a Seattle-based nonprofit serving older adults throughout King County, is in urgent need of Eastside volunteers to drive senior residents to and from their doctor appointments.

Melissa Tribelhorn, the agency's recruitment and outreach coordinator, said Senior Services organizes approximately 250 rides each week but last week had to turn away 45 requests—including 23 on the Eastside—due to a lack of volunteers.

“The bulk of our need for volunteers comes from the Eastside,” Tribelhorn said.

Senior Services volunteers drive their own vehicles and choose the days, times and areas where they would like to drive. The agency provides supplemental liability insurance and does not require any sort of special license.

Those who are interested in volunteering can fill out an application online or call 206-748-7588. Applicants will be asked for their driver's license and insurance information; the next step of the process calls for a criminal background check.

“It’s a very simple, painless process,” Tribelhorn said.