Driving so No One Has to Be alone
When Tom Claypool retired from owning restaurants, he did what a lot of folks do: he tried to settle into a quieter life at home. It did not take long for his wife to nudge him in a different direction.
“My wife told me I needed to get a hobby,” Tom says with a laugh. “I like to drive, and I like helping people. This sounded like a good way to do both.”
Today, Tom is one of New Growth Transit’s volunteer drivers in Vernon County, helping neighbors get to medical appointments, dialysis, and other essential services. What started as a simple way to get out of the house has become something much deeper: a lifeline of rides, friendship, and dignity for people who might otherwise be forgotten.
Finding a New Purpose on Rural Roads
“I thought it was a good program,”he says. “I do not have any downside with it. I enjoy it.”
Tom likes the structure that New Growth Transit provides. As a volunteer driver, he can choose when he is available and what trips he wants to take. The mileage reimbursement helps with gas and wear on his vehicle, and the staff is just a phone call away.
“They are always happy to answer questions,” he says. “Even some of the stupid questions I come up with from time to time.”
Most mornings start the same way. Tom gets up, gets around, and checks for his rides.
“Waiting for my rides, looking forward to taking the next ride,” he says. “I am always looking for more miles to drive.”
Donuts, Dialysis, and a Friendship
One of Tom’s regular riders is a woman he takes to dialysis. Over time, their routine has grown into something special.
“Her and I go for donuts every time I take her to dialysis,” Tom says.
They stop at the donut shop on the way, so she can get a donut and a drink to take with her.
“It is just helping her out, getting to know her better,” he says. “We have been able to form a good bond.”
Sitting in the ER so a Veteran Was not Alone
Another rider stands out in Tom’s mind, a Marine veteran who was almost completely blind and had no family nearby.
“He was a really nice guy,” Tom says. “It was like picking up a buddy and running around.”
One day, Tom took him to the hospital and stayed as the man was sent to the emergency room. Because there was no family in the area, Tom did something many would not think to do. He stayed.
“I did not want him to be alone,” Tom says.
Tom arrived with him around 6:30 in the evening and stayed until about 1:00 in the morning, waiting until the veteran could be transported to the VA hospital.
“I would hate to be in the hospital and be alone,” he says. “I do not want anybody to be alone.”
It was well beyond the normal expectations of a volunteer driver, but for Tom, it was simple. This was a person who needed someone to stand beside him.
Why Tom Drives
Tom will tell you he just likes people and respects everyone he meets.
“I try to help people and be nice to people and courteous to people,” he explains. “Some people might not be courteous to them like they deserve. It is about respect for everybody.”
He also sees the bigger picture of what New Growth Transit means for rural communities.
“The community needs that,” he says. “The community needs support where people might be forgotten. A lot of these people are by themselves. It gives them relationships with the drivers and somebody else to visit with, just to talk to.”
Again and again, drivers tell us that conversation is one of the most important parts of every ride. The miles matter, but so do the stories, the jokes, the quiet moments, and the feeling that someone cares enough to show up.
Why New Growth Transit Matters
Without New Growth Transit, Tom is not sure how he would even begin to help in this way.
“I do not know where you would even do anything like that,” he says. “I think New Growth is a great program. It gives structure and help to being able to reach out this way.”
That structure is what turns the kindness of people like Tom into a reliable transportation network for rural residents who cannot drive themselves. Behind every ride is a team scheduling trips, coordinating with partners, and working to raise the funds that make those miles possible.
How You Can Help
Tom’s story is only one of many across our region, but it is a powerful reminder of what is possible when neighbors look out for one another.
If you like to drive, enjoy meeting new people, and want to make a real difference for neighbors who might otherwise be left behind, consider becoming a volunteer driver with New Growth Transit. You choose when you drive and how far, and you receive mileage reimbursement to offset costs.
If driving is not a fit for you, your donation can help reimburse the miles that volunteers like Tom provide with their time. Every dollar helps turn empty seats into lifesaving rides.
Call to ask about becoming a volunteer driver. 417-283-7991
Or fill out an application from our website.
Donate online.
Or mail donations to:
New Growth Transit, c/o West Central MO Community Action Agency,
112 W 4th St, Appleton City, MO 64724
Together, we are strengthening rural communities and helping neighbors in need, one mile at a time.