The Road to Rides for Dallas County

When Milo Kelly moved to Dallas County, he didn’t set out to change how people got around. He just wanted to get involved. But every meeting he attended had a common refrain.

“We need transportation,” someone would say.
“People can’t get to appointments.”

“Every meeting I went to, there was always this: we need transportation to get people to here, to get them to there,” Milo recalled.

That was the spark.

Milo started digging into what rural communities across the country were doing to solve the same problem. After months of research, he discovered one approach that stood out— volunteer driver programs. They worked because they were personal, flexible, and built from the ground up.

He started small. A handful of drivers raised their hands to help. The county commissioners offered some local support. And then came a connection that would change everything.

When One Idea Met Another

When Milo shared the idea with Holly Elliott, the county’s economic development director, she mentioned that she had recently met Kelly Ast, Chief Mobility Officer for New Growth Transit. Kelly had been building a volunteer driver network in nine rural Missouri counties.

“When Holly told me about Kelly, I thought, well, this is it,” Milo said. “We called her and asked if she’d be willing to bring the program here.”

At first, Kelly wasn’t sure—Dallas County was outside New Growth Transit’s original service area. But when she saw what Milo and others in Dallas County had already built—a small fleet of willing volunteers, local funding, and a whole lot of community enthusiasm—she knew it was worth exploring. With some work and community support, New Growth Transit was able to officially adopted Dallas County in early 2023.

Prepared and Ready to Roll

Looking back, Milo says the key was simple: be ready.

“The need is obvious in rural areas,” he said. “The difference was that we already had drivers, community interest, and a little financial help lined up. That made it easy for New Growth Transit to say yes.”

Soon, volunteer drivers were on the road—taking neighbors to doctor appointments, the grocery store, and essential errands that had once been out of reach.

When a Program Becomes Part of the Community

Today, Dallas County’s volunteer driver program feels like it’s always been there.

“You hear people talk about it all the time,” Milo said. “It’s on Facebook, it comes up at community meetings,people mention it in conversation—it’s just part of who we are now.”

Riders share their experiences quietly but sincerely. “You have to have a personal relationship with them before they’ll tell you,” Milo said. “But once they do, you realize how much it’s changed their lives.”

And it’s not just riders who feel the impact. Volunteer drivers, too, find meaning in the miles.

“It’s kind of like the starfish story,” Milo reflected.
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“You can’t save them all, but it made a difference to this one.”

More Than a Ride

Dallas County now has around six active drivers—always encouraging more volunteers to step up so the load doesn’t fall too heavily on any one—and each one makes a big difference. Milo still keeps an eye on how things are going, stepping in when local questions or challenges arise.

“I’m proud of what we built,” he said. “And even prouder that it keeps going without me having to hold it together. That’s when you know it’s really working.”

What started as one man’s curiosity about rural solutions has become a county-wide effort—neighbors helping neighbors get where they need to go.

From idea to impact, Dallas County’s journey is proof that when a community comes together, every mile matters.

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