www.VolunteerTransportationCenter.org
St. Lawrence County (315)714-2034
Did you know that if you, or a loved one, has medical appointments to get to and from and they cannot drive, there is help? I didn't. I found out when I found a job advertisement and applied for a position in the office at there VTC in Canton. I'm SO glad I didn't start college or end up at another job where I would have just been putting in time to earn a paycheck. Don't get me wrong, a paycheck is an important thing! Without it there isn't food and gas and utility payments and all sorts of fun things like that! But how nice to find a job that I LIKE doing with people I enjoy spending time with! My employers and co-workers are a lot of fun to be around; a variety of people from around the county, a variety of ages and personalities, and each of them damned cool to work with. I've learned a ton in just the couple of months that I've been there, already, and I've still got a lot to learn.
One of the things that's been more difficult for me is getting used to not knowing what I'm doing. I'm so very used to being good at what I do! The last two new jobs I took were both in fields that I was very confident in....childcare, and retail. Being Sammy's childcare provider was easy.....he was like a nephew to me and having him around was never any more difficult than having my own son around. And retail? Pshaw! I stepped into cashiering at Walmart and, other than having to learn a new POS system, it wasn't really anything I hadn't done before. I had to learn new things at the Service Desk, and there was plenty I didn't know, but Hell....it's retail. Now THIS.....this is something unlike anything I'd ever done before. And the variety of information that passes across my desk in any given day is just staggering. And I'm the new girl!! Being unsure of what I'm doing is very disconcerting, and I constantly feel like I'm going to tie things right into a big ole knot, but they tell me that's normal. ;) Fortunately, the awesome people I work with are there to help.
The gist of it is this.....people in my county who need to get to and from medical/dental/optical appointments, and for whatever reason are unable to drive or get there, can apply here and once they're set up in our system then we can get them there. We have a bank of Volunteer Drivers, who get some small reimbursement for mileage but otherwise are doing this on their own time and dime, who help people. It doesn't matter what your income is or what your age is or what your problems are, if you can get in and out of a car under your own steam, we can generally do something to help you out. We take new clients all the time. And new drivers are always welcome and sought after like gold! So if you've ever thought you'd like to do something to give back to your community, but you don't want to be on a committee or part of some large group, this would be exactly what you're looking for! You get a lot of human interaction, you get to meet new people and help people, but you also get to chill in your car and kick around the county and state.
Just something to consider!
