CASSOPOLIS — Cass County Department of Human Services urgently needs volunteers to drive clients to their medical appointments.
Volunteers use their own vehicles for the assignments and are reimbursed for mileage at the rate of 39.9 cents per mile.
Other expenses, such as meals, parking or tolls, are also reimbursable in most cases.
Most of the trips are within Cass County or to neighboring communities, but there are occasional requests to go to Ann Arbor or Grand Rapids.
“It is a real challenge for some of our clients to see their doctor,” said Margaret Shultz, DHS community resources coordinator. “Their family members live far away or are working during the hours when appointments are usually made. Public transportation is not normally available if the destination is outside of the county. For some clients, a volunteer driver makes the difference between being able to stay at home or needing to live in an assisted living facility.”
There is no minimum time commitment. Volunteers may turn down trips they don’t wish to take.
Contact Shultz at (269) 445-0233 for more information or to get a volunteer application form.