Driving So No One is Left Waiting
When Kevin Hensley from St. Clair County went looking for something new, he wasn’t searching for a spotlight or a big change. He just wanted a way to help, quietly, meaningfully, and on his own terms.
After a career in law enforcement, Kevin still had a heart for serving. He found himself missing the sense of purpose that comes from showing up when people need you most. He also knew what didn’t fit anymore. Crowds weren’t his thing. High-pressure situations weren’t what he was looking for. What did fit was driving.
“I like helping people,” Kevin said. “And this is a good way to help people who really need it.”
That search eventually led him to New Growth Transit, and he applied.
A Different Kind of Service
For Kevin, driving with New Growth Transit felt familiar in a good way. The work carries the same core value he carried throughout his career: caring for people in moments when they’re vulnerable.
But here, the pace is different.
He drives individuals to medical appointments, errands, and essential services, people who often don’t have another reliable option. Some are unsteady on their feet. Some are exhausted. Many have already experienced transportation systems that left them waiting for hours. Some were simply stranded. Others have endured long, exhausting rides just to reach care or get back home.
Kevin hears those stories all the time.
“I’ve had so many people tell me they were picked up, dropped off, and then sat there for hours waiting for a ride home,” he said. “Or they’d be riding around for four or five hours while it made stops in several towns on the way. They don’t like that, and I don’t blame them.”
You Don’t Have to Call Anyone
What surprises riders most is also what Kevin is proudest of.
When he drops someone off, they often ask the same question: Who do I call to get a ride back?
“You don’t have to call anybody,” he tells them. “I’ll be right here.”
That moment matters.
“You can see it in their face,” Kevin said. “They’re totally surprised. They relax. They don’t have to worry about scrambling for another ride or sitting there wondering if someone’s coming back. That relief is huge.”
Sometimes he waits an hour. Sometimes a couple. That’s fine with him.
Though he could opt to run his own errands nearby while he waits, he tells them, “I’m not going anywhere.”
Caring Is the Difference
Kevin believes that’s what sets New Growth Transit apart is not just reliability, but care.
“I don’t think there are too many places like this,” he said. “And the drivers I’ve talked to? We care. The people who use the service pick up on that pretty quick.”
That care shows up in how New Growth Transit supports its drivers, too.
Flexibility matters. When Kevin needs time off for family or medical reasons, New Growth Transit doesn’t apply pressure or make things difficult. There’s no guilt. No stress.
“That takes a lot of pressure off the drivers,” he said. “New Growth Transit is easy to work with. That means a lot.”
Helping One Ride at a Time
Kevin hopes it continues to grow because the need is real.
“There are a lot of people out there who just can’t get around,” he said. “And when they find something that works — something reliable — they hold onto it.”
For Kevin, each ride is simple. Show up. Be steady. Be there when it matters.
It’s not flashy work. But it’s meaningful.
And for the person sitting beside him knowing they won’t be left waiting, it makes all the difference.
How You Can Help
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 Kevin provide with their time. Every dollar helps turn empty seats into lifesaving rides.
- Call to speak with our volunteer driver coordinator. 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.