Pamela Thompson knows just how important volunteer drivers can be.
There was a time when she needed medical tests - but was turned away by the medical centre, because there was no-one available to drive her home after the testing was done.
It’s something that happens more often than most people realize. Seniors especially, face mobility issues: no longer driving themselves, they may hesitate to rely on friends and family for rides, and taking a taxi may just be too expensive on a fixed income.
“These people sit at home, and they’re stuck,” said Thompson.
Thompson, a truck driver for years, has always enjoyed driving, but it was only after she was hit with a life-threatening health situation, that she became a volunteer driver.
“I came out of it, but I couldn’t go back to work,” Thompson explained. It left her with a dilemma. “What am I going to do? I’m too sick to do a full-time job, but not sick enough to stay home.”
That’s when she volunteered for the Community & Home Assistance to Seniors (CHATS) transportation program.
“It is the thing I can do,” she said. “I enjoy it, and it’s a pay-back thing for me.”
Some days, it’s just a trip down to Newmarket, to the hospital or doctors’ appointments. She fills the time between drop off and pick-up with her own chores and errands.
At other times, Thompson drives farther afield – she's been as far south as Concord - although she prefers not to drive to Toronto, with its traffic and parking challenges.
Thompson uses her own vehicle, always ensuring it is clean and well-maintained. “We’re all ambassadors for this company, and I take that very seriously,” she said.
CHATS does provide remuneration for gas and mileage – something Thompson didn’t expect when she first started as a volunteer driver. “I was quite pleasantly surprised by that,” she said - but her time is all donated.
“I have so much of it, why not?” she said. “I love it. I love doing it… I’ve met some amazing people, made some lifelong friends.”
In fact, Thompson said, “I think I’m getting more out of this than the clients. The people are so appreciative and grateful. They just want a friend.” She describes her clients as her “CHATS family.”
CHATS offers transportation services that include both local and longer distance rides, to medical appointments and tests, adult day programs, shopping and social outings, provided by a mix of paid drivers, partner agencies, and volunteers like Thompson.
Thompson volunteers for CHATS “as much as they’ll give me. This week, I was out every day.”
She plans to continue volunteering as a driver. “Absolutely I will do this until I can’t do it any more, and I hope that’s a long time coming,” she said. “It’s not work… I would love for it to be a full-time thing.”
