Volunteer transportation service makes its 20,000 round trip
Escorted Transportation Service Northwest reached a significant milestone on April 24 - the organization provided its 20,000th round-trip ride since 2006.
Using only volunteer drivers who use their own cars and gas, ETS/NW provides escorted transportation for seniors to their medical and dental appointments. With nearly 1,000 passengers and 80 volunteer drivers, ETS/NW provides, on average, about 2,500 round-trip rides a year.
The recipient of Friday's 20,000th round-trip ride was Luther Village resident Marian Hannaford. Hannaford, an ETS/NW passenger since 2010, is very grateful for the program and its volunteers.
"ETS/NW has been so important to me over the years. Their nice drivers take such good care of me, and because of them, my daughter doesn't need to take a day off work to drive me to the doctor," Hannaford said.
"So many seniors need help like this, and it's wonderful knowing that ETS/NW is there to help."
The driver for the 20,000th round-trip ride was ETS/NW volunteer and Arlington Heights resident Joe Ruane. Joe has volunteered as a driver for ETS/NW since 2006, and currently serves on the organization's board of directors.
"This is a great program," Ruane says. "It's a form of ministry in that not only do we provide rides, but as volunteers we're also offering compassion and caring."
Founded in 2006 after a small but similar program had been discontinued in Arlington Heights, former nurse Kathy Kasprowicz knew the unmet needs of so many seniors warranted her trying to start up a stand-alone program.
The hope was to try and provide 20 rides a month with the 15 volunteers we'd recruited," Kasprowicz said.
"We had very humble beginnings. My kitchen table was 'command central' for six months. Operating on a wing and a prayer, we knew we were just touching the tip of the iceberg."
Officially opening on Sept. 1, 2006 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, ETS/NW quickly grew and needed to find an appropriate place to call 'home.' They found it at the Arlington Heights Senior Center in February 2007.
"I'm delighted to have ETS/NW here at the Senior Center. It's a natural fit and the ETS/NW organization greatly enhances the unique variety of services we provide for our community's seniors," says Karen Hansen, Arlington Heights Senior Center manager. She added: "People who need rides but are unable to get their on their own plus ETS/NW - it's a match made in heaven."
"One very clear mission and an incredible group of compassionate volunteers have gotten us to this amazing milestone," says Lynndah Easterwood Lahey, ETS/NW executive director. "Hundreds of seniors in the Northwest suburbs have benefited from our organization's focus on ensuring that safe, reliable volunteer-based transportation exists for the frail elderly. Our volunteers are truly the most compassionate people I know."
To use ETS/NW, both passenger and appointment must be located within the 160-square-mile boundaries of the organization, which are defined by Lake-Cook Road on the north, Barrington Road on the west, Biesterfield Road on the south and Greenwood Avenue on the east.
An ETS/NW volunteer picks the senior up at their home, drives them to their appointment, waits with them, and then returns them home again.
At least a week's advance notice is required and a $12 donation per ride is requested. For more information, contact ETS/NW at 847.222.9227 or visit etsnw.org.
The nonprofit has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Arlington Heights Heart of Gold Award, the Caring Hearts Award, the nationally-recognized START Merit Award from The Beverly Foundation, and several Impact Awards from HandsOn Suburban Chicago.