Volunteers Needed Rides a lift for seniors, families

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Friends Gail Hermanson and Joan White volunteer as drivers in the Ring-a-Ride program run by Rupert’s Land Caregiver Services. Both say they’ve enjoyed the relationships they’ve formed with their elderly clients. (TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ) Photo Store

Getting around town can be tough for Winnipeg seniors, particularly in the winter months. Buses don't provide door-to-door service. Sidewalks are icy. Cabs are expensive.

That's why Rupert's Land Caregiver Services offers the Ring-A-Ride Program. For a small fee to cover mileage, seniors enrolled in the program can request a return ride to medical appointments, shopping trips and visits with spouses who are now living in personal-care homes.

Joan White, a 62-year-old retiree, has been a volunteer driver with the program for the past three years. She initially came to the agency wanting to do volunteer respite care -- looking after an ailing or dependent individual while the caregiver takes a break to run errands or go to appointments. She said she knows first-hand the challenges and difficulties individuals in the caregiver role can face.

"I had a mother who had Alzheimer's and I could have done with some respite care but that sort of service didn't exist then," explained White. "I wanted to be able to give a bit back by giving some respite care to some people."

Then on a day when the Ring-A-Ride Program was short on drivers, White was asked to fill in and she hasn't looked back since. Two or three days each week she sets out on the road, picking up and delivering city seniors to their required destinations. She said it's been a fun experience getting to know people and building relationships with some of her regular clients. The bonds she's built are so strong, in fact, that when she was planning for a month-long holiday last year, she was worried about leaving one woman behind with just any other volunteer. That's when she recruited her friend Gail Hermanson to the cause. She knew she would be leaving her favourite elderly client in good hands with Hermanson.

"I'm attached to that lady. She's a lovely, lovely lady," said White, a soon-to-be grandmother who moved to Winnipeg from Australia with her husband four years ago. "I said 'If I'm going away for a month, this is a bit of a gap' and I knew Gail was a nice, pleasant person."

Little did she know that Hermanson would not only agree to take over with her favourite client while she was away, but would also become a regular volunteer with Rupert's Land Caregiver Services long after her substitute duty was complete.

"It's one of those situations when you think you're contributing but at the end of the day, you end up getting way more out of it," said Hermanson, a 57-year-old grandmother, of her decision to stay on as a volunteer.

She added she too has loved getting to know the clients, finding out about their lives and experiences.

"I think it's really important, the intergenerational thing. I think for me it's good. I learn their stories. As I'm driving I find out about them as a person and where they come from. I think it's good for them as well, to have someone who is younger and interested in them," said Hermanson.

The director of Rupert's Land Caregiver Services, Syva-Lee Wildenmann, adds the program is good for more than just the clients and the drivers. It also helps the clients' children.

"You're helping two generations. The person you're driving is getting to where they need to go but there's also usually a son or daughter somewhere who can't take them. They're at work or out of town. You're helping the caregiver too."

If you would like more information on any Rupert's Land Caregiver Services program or you would like to become a volunteer please call 204-452-9491. In addition to Ring-A-Ride drivers, volunteers are also required to do respite care. All new volunteers must provide references and are required to do a complete a police record check and a personal interview. Drivers are also required to submit a drivers' abstract.

If you know a special volunteer who strives to make his or her community a better place to live, please contact Erin Madden at erinmadden@shaw.ca.

The following is a list of volunteer opportunities advertised in the Winnipeg area. For more information about these listings, please contact the person/organization directly. You may also call (204) 477- 5180 ext. 230 to set up an appointment to see an interviewer at Volunteer Manitoba. Email: noreen.mian@volunteermanitoba.ca or visit our website: www.mbvolunteer.ca for other available volunteer opportunities.

Rupert's Land Caregiver Services Ring-A-Ride program needs drivers to take clients residing in southwest winnipeg to appointments, shopping and social outings. Compensation for gasoline and parking provided. Information: 452-9491 or rlcs_vol@mts.net.

Assiniboine Park Conservancy is recruiting Safety Watch Volunteers. Safety Watch Volunteers help create a safe and friendly environment for the public and are a visible presence throughout the Park and Zoo. Volunteers interested in a career in law enforcement and security are especially encouraged to apply. Information: volunteer@assiniboinepark.ca..

Canadian National Institute for the Blind is looking for volunteers to sell car raffle tickets at malls and other locations throughout Winnipeg. Duties include making change for customers, balancing out the float at the end of the shift, providing an update to the site supervisor and answering customer questions about ticket sales and CNIB programs. Information: Candace 789-0955 or candace.gower@cnib.ca.

Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba (IRCOM) is seeking a dedicated individual who loves working with children to help out with our Uzazi Pamoja parenting program. Under the guidance of the Family Support Worker in charge, the successful applicant would help with preparing the program materials and space, supervise children as needed, participate in sharing circles as needed and help with cleanup and with some planning. We are also recruiting mentors to work with newcomer youth and provide them support in the areas of education, development of positive social relationships and settlement into their new home; assist with homework two times per week. Information: Erin 943-8765 ext. 23 or erina@ircom.ca.

Pregnancy & Family Support Services requires volunteer assistants in daytime adult literacy classes once or twice per week. Literacy assistants will help the teacher by preparing class material, facilitating literacy activities with a small group of students, working one-on-one with students and any other classroom-related duties as directed. Information: Rhonda at 775-9934 or pfssinc@shaw.ca.

West Central Women's Resource Centre needs a driver (with access to own car or van) and one other volunteer to pick up Winnipeg Harvest supplies every second Tuesday at 11:20 a.m. sharp. Supplies will then be delivered to West Central Women's Resource Centre and unloaded into kitchen. They also need volunteers on site to stock the kitchen with the non-perishables. Information: Stephanie 774-8975 ext. 203 or community@wcwrc.ca.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 27, 2012 B2