TrustedRiders praises award of new Community Care Corps grants for Volunteer Chaperone

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (through its grantee Oasis) this week announced awards to 7 new sites to deploy Volunteer Chaperone programs in line with the vision of TrustedRiders Inc., the 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to the model.

"It is heartening to see support for this effort in communities from Connecticut to Georgia, Maryland, Alabama, Missouri, Arizona, and California," offered CEO and co-founder Alan Lopatin. "The effort is testament to all our families and recognition of the fact that family, friends, and neighbors cannot always be there when you need to have a procedure or attend a doctor visit and require the help of a responsible adult."

The seven grant sites, including one CCC renewal, join 6 other sites in bringing to 13 the current number of local programs launched with federal support, due in part to TrustedRiders' efforts.

"Having watched my father and his neighbors in retirement, no longer driving, struggle to find convenient transportation to healthcare and a helping hand, I know this week's awards will reduce the stress for untold thousands and mean peace of mind and healthier outcomes for patients, their families, caregivers, and the community," commented TrustedRiders Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder Deborah Kayton Michals. "This round of funding, in what has grown to a competitive application process open to nonprofits and local government agencies, has identified a real hunger for bringing TrustedRiders-style Volunteer Chaperones to more communities. We would like to see every community create opportunities for neighbors to help neighbors at some of their most vulnerable times, and we will work toward that goal."

TrustedRiders works with local communities to deploy Volunteer Chaperones to assist older individuals, adults with disabilities, and others in need of a temporary companion in transportation. The initiative grew out of the personal experience of the co-founders in looking out for their aging parents. Every year, an estimated 3.6 million healthcare appointments are missed due to transportation issues at a cost of $150 billion. TrustedRiders helps bridge the gap between curb-to-curb rides and door-to/through-door transport. Contact us at Info@TrustedRiders.org