Jewish Family Service has a decade-long partnership with ShareCare Faith in Action that connects JFS volunteers with older adult clients to provide two round-trip rides per month to medical appointments and community programs. Currently, there is a shortage of volunteer drivers, which means older adults often cannot get the rides they need.

By becoming involved with ShareCare, community members who are already driving neighbors, friends and fellow congregants will now have the benefit of being part of a greater pool of support, along with additional liability coverage from the ShareCare program.

The best part of the program is its flexibility. “This is the perfect program for volunteers who want to start getting involved without a set schedule, whether it is two rides per week or two rides per month,” says Jennifer Oxfeld, volunteer coordinator for JFS. By training more volunteers, the program will in turn be able to help more clients who need rides. After attending a brief training, volunteers receive notification of ride requests by email and are able to select which rides work for them.  

Volunteers are providing not only a ride, but also a connection that says they care. Many drivers enjoy the relationship that grows out of the time they spend with their passengers. Says one JFS client, “Because of the rides I get from ShareCare each month, I feel more independent. I don’t feel like I’m imposing on my friends anymore.”  

Congregation Bnai Shalom is working directly with Oxfeld to organize a training for members of their congregation to become enrolled as drivers. A second training is scheduled for the Allentown area.

For more information on attending an informational training session, contact Jennifer Oxfeld at joxfeld@jfslv.org.