By Phyl Newbeck
When most people think about Green Mountain Transit they envision the bus service which was chartered by the Vermont General Assembly in 1973. The system of public buses serves the communities of Burlington, Essex, South Burlington, Shelburne, Williston, Winooski, Milton, Hinesburg, and a portion of Colchester. In addition, the LINK Express routes serve Montpelier, and St. Albans commuters. GMT is considered a municipality and is the first and only transit authority in the State of Vermont.
However, in addition to the regular routes, Green Mountain Transit organizes a system of volunteer community drivers who help their neighbors get to doctor’s appointments, purchase groceries, and perform other acts of daily living which require transportation. Volunteers are eligible to be paid or receive other compensation related to their travel. Currently, the amount paid is $.70 per mile which is the rate set by the federal government.
Most of the time, trips are local in nature and are often for regular medical appointments like dialysis, radiation treatment, physical therapy, or counseling. Other rides may be to appointments for human services or visits to senior centers. On occasion, drivers may be asked to travel further if the person in need of help has more complex medical issues that can only be dealt with in Boston or Hanover, NH. Volunteer drivers can decide what kind of routes they are willing to take. Many of the people needing rides are seniors, people with disabilities, or Medicaid clients.
Those interested in volunteering should select the geographic region which is best for them. The state is divided into ten areas covered by six agencies. Green Mountain Transit covers the St. Albans, Burlington, and Montpelier areas. Volunteers can fill out and submit an online form or email an application to the appropriate address. After the application is processed, the prospective volunteer will be contacted so they can continue the process. Volunteers need a valid driver’s license, auto insurance, and a good driving record. They will also be subject to a background check.
Michelle Lynn Thomas, the Volunteer Coordinator for Washington County noted that most of the volunteers she works with are older Vermonters who have retired. The County currently has a dozen volunteers, five of whom help out three or four days a week. “We’re always looking for new people,” she said. “The work is gratifying for them because they know it’s for a good cause and it’s good for the community.”
Peter, one of Thomas’s volunteer drivers said one of his clients believes the volunteer program has added additional years to his life by making healthcare treatments accessible. For Peter, those sentiments were gratifying. “This heartfelt vote of thanks compensates for the challenges of driving in all Vermont weather,” he said. “This keeps me going.”
Another passenger told Peter that he would go blind if he wasn’t able to get to his eye care appointments in Burlington, telling Peter that he and GMT were invaluable to him. “There are many ways to prevent health threats to older Vermonters,” Peter said. “Volunteer driving is one of them.”
For more information, visit https://ridegmt.com/become-a-community-driver/
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