Volunteer Driver Transportation Expands to Pettis County
New Growth Transit is expanding its volunteer driver transportation service to Pettis County, providing residents with free rides to health care appointments.
New Growth Transit is a volunteer driver network designed specifically to meet the transportation challenges of rural communities. Trained, certified and insured volunteer drivers use their own vehicles to provide door-to-door rides, connecting neighbors with places they may otherwise struggle to reach.
“We know transportation can become a barrier very quickly when someone can no longer drive, doesn’t have a reliable vehicle, or simply doesn’t have another way to get where they need to go,” said Kelly Ast, New Growth Transit’s Chief Regional Mobility Officer. “New Growth Transit gives Pettis County residents another option while creating an opportunity for local people to make a meaningful difference for their neighbors.”
Local Volunteer Drivers Needed
As New Growth Transit begins serving Pettis County, the organization is actively recruiting local volunteer drivers.
Volunteer drivers decide when and where they're willing to drive. Volunteers simply need a valid driver's license and their own vehicle. No special license is required.Drivers receive mileage reimbursement of 72.5 cents per mile, paid twice monthly, to cover the cost of providing rides.
For many volunteers, it's a meaningful way to make a difference close to home. A ride to a doctor's appointment may seem routine, but for a neighbor without transportation, it can mean the difference between receiving needed care or going without. The conversations and connections that naturally develop along the way often become an unexpected reward. While the ride provides an important connection for the rider, volunteers often find the experience just as rewarding.
Because rides are provided by local volunteers, every additional driver helps New Growth Transit serve more residents and expand trip availability throughout Pettis County.
New Growth Transit handles scheduling and coordination, allowing volunteers to focus on driving. Volunteers choose which trips fit their schedules and the distances they're comfortable driving. Before taking their first ride, volunteers complete a background check, training,certification, and verification of their vehicle and driving eligibility. New Growth Transit also provides insurance coverage while volunteers are providing approved rides.
Connecting Pettis County Residents to Essential Services
The expansion into Pettis County is made possible with support from Healthy Blue Missouri, whose investment is helping New Growth Transit establish service, recruit and train local volunteer drivers, and build partnerships throughout the county.
“We are grateful to Healthy Blue Missouri for investing in a transportation solution built around the realities of rural communities,” Ast said. “This support gives us the opportunity to build something lasting in Pettis County, but the heart of this model will be local volunteers willing to give their time to help a neighbor get where they need to go.”
New Growth Transit welcomes partnerships with health care organizations, social service agencies, workforce organizations, veterans' organizations, educational institutions, businesses and other community organizations throughout Pettis County.
Organizations can help spread the word about volunteer driver opportunities, the availability of free rides for Pettis County residents, or learn more about becoming a community investment partner. New Growth Transit also welcomes opportunities to provide presentations about the program.
Individuals interested in becoming a volunteer driver and organizations interested in partnering with New Growth Transit can call 417-283-7991 or visit newgrowthtransit.org to learn more.
About New Growth Transit
New Growth Transit is a public transportation program of New Growth, a nonprofit rural community development corporation. Through a network of trained volunteer drivers, New Growth Transit provides free transportation to residents across a growing service area in rural Missouri,connecting them to health care and, when funding allows, employment, food,education, and other essential services.