The Driver – Volunteer Newsletter December 2022

by neighborride | Jan 9, 2023 | Volunteer Newsletters

Holiday Greetings

Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season!

Celebrating 18 Years with a Special Poem

Throughout the years, one of our much-loved, and now retired volunteers would treat us to fun, original poems to mark a variety of milestones. For old-times sake, we asked if he would pen one for our 18th “birthday”. To our delight, he did! Thank you Andy!

Happy Eighteenth Birthday, Neighbor Ride!

One score years, less two, ago

A senior had no way to go

To doctors, church or shopping, too

They didn’t know just what to do

But then in Howard County, they

Were given options one fine day

For yes that moment did arrive

And Neighbor Ride began to drive

With friends and neighbors at the wheel

Those seniors did relief then feel

Their transportation not forsaken

They could get there, no mistakin’

And though some eighteen years have passed

So quickly did the time go fast

And Neighbor Ride has really grown some

Making seniors’ lives less lonesome

Lots of drivers, lots of rides

Lots of passengers besides

Though it’s all increased in size

And the numbers surely rise

Neighbor Ride is always thriving

Safely, surely they’re arriving

Racking up a ton of miles

Meeting people’s needs with smiles!

Passenger Fare Increases

After four-plus years and a through review, our rates will be adjusted effective July 1, 2022. As always, fees are determined by the one way distance, per Google Maps, between the pick-up location and the destination. If any client expresses concern over their ability to use Neighbor Ride due to financial constraints, please have them call Patrice or Andrew to see if they qualify for any subsidies.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER, THE COLUMBIA ORCHESTRA, FOR THIS SEASON’S FABULOUS PERFORMANCES!

December 17, 2022, 10:30am & 1:00pm – Family Holiday Concert
January 27, 2023, 7:30pm – Columbia Jazz Band presents… Who is Oliver Nelson?
February 4, 2023, 7:30 pm – Brahms, Strauss, & Simon
March 18, 2022 at 7:30pm – Symphonic Pops
April 15, 2023 – Peter and the Wolf
May 20, 2023, 7:30 pm – Rhapsody in Blue

DETAILS & TICKETS

National Federation for the Blind – Upcoming Meeting Dates

Thanks for all the drivers who have taken these Tuesday evening rides. The clients have all been so appreciative!! The schedule for the rest of the rides are as follows: January 3; February 7; March 7; April 4; May 2; June 6.

SAVE THE DATE!

Bingo will be back at the FOP Lodge on Saturday, April 22nd!! Basket and event sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact Colleen at ckonstanzer@neighborride.org if you or your business/employer would like to get involved.

Mileage Reports for Tax Season

A spreadsheet of volunteer miles can be generated from the driver Ride Match Portal following these steps:

From the driver portal, click on Ride History
Change the date range to 1/1/22-12/31/22
Export to Excel

Note: The mileage on the front page of the driver dashboard does not include total miles so use the total reflected on the spreadsheet.

Thank you to everyone who has already responded to our annual giving campaign. Your generous support makes all the difference as we DRIVE FORWARD in response to the rapidly growing demand for the transportation and food/medical equipment deliveries that Neighbor Ride provides for older adults in our community. There’s still time to contribute before the end of the 2022 tax year! To donate online, simply click the button below:

DONATE

THANK YOU to the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County!

Neighbor Ride is so grateful for the generous support of the members of the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County. Their recent grant helped to offset transportation fees for 200 of our female clients!