Living in rural New Hampshire requires one to be car-dependent, as public transportation infrastructure is nonexistent in most communities. A lack of transportation is a known barrier to accessing health care and food resources, contributing to overall poorer health outcomes.
Both hospitals within the Monadnock Region, Monadnock Community Hospital and Cheshire Medical Center, cite health care access as a top priority in their most-recent community health needs assessments (2018 and 2019, respectively). A lack of transportation is also the second-leading barrier to food access for families with children in the Monadnock Region, according to a 2021 report conducted by Southwest Region Planning Commission for the Monadnock Children’s Food Access Alliance. The report also listed the towns of Keene, Peterborough, Alstead, Sullivan and Swanzey as having the highest percentages of households without vehicles.
Two Keene-based nonprofit organizations – Home Healthcare, Hospice & Community Services and the Keene Senior Center – include transportation within Keene as part of their services. However, only one local nonprofit organization is solely devoted to addressing the unmet transportation needs of all 34 towns of the Monadnock Region, and they need your support.
Since 2008, Community Volunteer Transportation Company has provided free transportation to residents in southwestern New Hampshire who are unable to drive due to age, ability, economic situation or short-term circumstances through its volunteer driver program. It’s a true neighbor-helping-neighbor organization, with volunteer drivers giving their time and driving ability to those without access to transportation. They ensure their fellow Granite Staters have access to food, health care and other essential human services to enable them to maintain their well-being and independence.
In 2021, CVTC’s volunteer drivers collectively donated 4,470 hours and drove 92,677 miles. The New Hampshire Department of Transportation values a volunteer’s service at $18 per hour, making the value of CVTC’s volunteers equal to $80,460. For an organization with an annual operating budget of approximately $230,000, the contributions made by volunteers are of substantial value to the region.
In addition to the volunteer driver program, CVTC contracts with chair van providers to coordinate free transportation for people whose mobility is dependent upon a wheelchair. The people of the Monadnock Region have the dignity of remaining independent without a vehicle because of the services provided by CVTC. Families, single people, young or old, all residents of the region benefit from the service CVTC provides. Whether one is unable to drive due to a short-term medical procedure, or just until one can afford to have their car repairs completed or their driver’s license reinstated, CVTC is there to help ensure that the lack of public transportation does not impede a person’s ability to live independently.
CVTC’s volunteer drivers positively impact the health and well-being of the region with each ride they give to essential non-emergency medical and social service appointments, the grocery store, food pantry, post office, bank or pharmacy. In CVTC’s 2021 Impact Survey, the majority of riders reported their health has improved, they eat healthier, they feel happier and less anxious and feel more connected to people since riding with CVTC. Ninety percent of riders reported they were able to maintain, regain or attain their independence.
As one rider said, “I don’t like to ask family members to take the day off from work to take me to an appointment. I am very thankful for CVTC. I feel I have got back some of my independence.”
CVTC has the biggest impact on the 25% of riders who report that CVTC is their only form of transportation.
Meanwhile, volunteer drivers also benefit from CVTC. They report having an increased sense of belonging to the community, are happier, are more satisfied with life, feel more connected to others and feel valued for their service.
One volunteer driver said, “It’s really rewarding to be able to help people that lack transportation or cannot drive. I’ve met some very nice and very interesting people. Riders are very appreciative of the service. It gives me an opportunity to do something good for people and the community on an ongoing basis. The management team is very supportive. The system is very flexible and easy to use when looking to sign up for a trip, or enter trip data, etc.”
Drivers are needed in every community within Cheshire County, and by joining CVTC’s volunteer driver team, you would be helping the organization reach its 2022 goal of having 75 active volunteer drivers. Since the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, the total number of active volunteer drivers has decreased from 88 volunteer drivers in 2019 to today’s current level of 48. The number of riders during this same timeframe increased by 30%. Approximately 8.5% of ride requests made from 2019 to 2021 were not met due to a lack of driver availability. Currently, only 12 of the 34 service area towns have volunteers.
Support CVTC by becoming a volunteer driver. Volunteer drivers undergo a background check process and program orientation before they can access CVTC’s ride database. Once the screening process and training are completed, volunteer drivers use CVTC’s web-based trip management software to select the trips that best fit their schedule and only drive when it is convenient for them. Whether you have two hours a week to give or 10, CVTC needs your help to ensure our neighbors have transportation to access health and human services that enhance their independence and well-being.
CVTC is a nonprofit that depends on the generosity of patrons, donors, and grant funders. Financial contributions of any denomination keep CVTC ready and able to respond to the region’s unmet transportation needs.
With a lack of public transportation in our region, your support keeps CVTC ready to serve all residents needing access to food, health care and basic social services. Independence and taking care of one’s own are two qualities ingrained in the heart of Granite Staters, which makes supporting the work of local nonprofit CVTC easy to do. Volunteer your time, make a donation and cast your vote to support CVTC and its vision of “Transportation for Everyone.” Learn more at cvtc-nh.org.
Renee Sangermano is a human services major at Franklin Pierce University, Class of 2022, and advancement assistant with Community Volunteer Transportation Company (CVTC)