New Sarasota Group Recruits Volunteers for Rides

With the nation’s highest percentage of residents age 65+, Florida faces issues today that the entire nation will face in coming years as the population grows older.  One issue is mobility – helping people get around their communities if they have made the decision to hang up their keys and no longer drive.

Now a Sarasota group is stepping up to meet this challenge.  ITNSarasota, the newest Florida affiliate of a growing national movement of volunteer-based mobility organizations, is reaching out to Southwest Florida residents to become volunteer drivers.

“Let’s face facts:  Florida is an ‘auto-centric’ state,” said AARP’s Florida state director, Lori Parham.  “Our communities are designed for automobiles, and that’s how almost all of us get around.  Once driving becomes difficult, we all can face serious mobility challenges.  But staying active and mobile is very important – not just to maintain our health and for our convenience, but to make sure we keep up those important social connections.”

“Volunteer-based mobility programs can be an important part of finding mobility solutions,” Parham said.  “That’s why AARP Florida has been working hard to promote this concept in the Sunshine State.”

Based on an innovative program developed in Portland, Maine, the concept of an Independent Transportation Network, or ITN, is simple:  The organization recruits volunteers who help older people get around their communities.  Volunteers use their personal vehicles to give area residents a low-cost way to get around.  ITN staff members help hook up riders and volunteers.

ITN participants get rides to doctor appointments, to the local pharmacy or grocery store, the beauty salon or barbershop or to other important appointments.  In exchange the volunteers build up “ride credits” toward the day when they also may make the decision to hang up the keys.

Riders pay a $50 annual membership fee ($75 for a family membership), plus a pickup fee and mileage charges.  But because the drivers are volunteers, costs are low – the average ride costs $10.  There’s a “Road Scholarship” program for older people of modest means to get help with the cost of rides.  Older people also can build up credits by trading in the vehicle they’re no longer driving.  Friends and family members can buy gift certificates.  Partnerships with local businesses and health-care providers also help riders earn credits toward free trips.

Under way in late 2008, the program already has attracted a broad base of community support.  A Sarasota community planning and improvement organization, Sarasota County Openly Planning for Excellence (SCOPE) helped organize initial community backing, with assistance from the Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Sarasota-Manatee, Inc. (JFSC), and other community leaders.  In May 2009, the Community Foundation of Sarasota awarded a two-year grant of $125,000 to ITNSarasota to help the organization get on the road.  

AARP played a role by helping to bring SCOPE, JFCS, the Community Foundation and other groups together with Katherine Freud, founder of ITNAmerica and its executive director.  AARP also played a role in the creation of ITNOrlando, a sister organization also affiliated with the national alliance.