Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Caacbay, Lew, Tessen, Drinka, Olson, Langfeldt, Canfield, Franz, Schoen, Riley, Powers, Heindl, Holmes, Linster, Nechuta, Beaver, Ellison, Clark, Kernan
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 10/19/2022
Volunteer Drivers: Getting People Where They Need to Go (2022)
Shown are the volunteer drivers for the Clark County Department of Social Services’ Volunteer Transportation Program: (front, l-r) Stanley Lew, Roger Tessen, Donald Drinka, Mary Anne Olson, Donna Langfeldt, Anita Canfield, William (“Shorty”) Franz, transportation coordinator Susan Caacbay, (back) Helen Schoen, Linda Riley, Marlene Powers, Jerry Heindl, Sally Heindl, JC Holmes, Phyllis Linster, Michelle Nechuta, Marge Beaver, Roger Ellison and transportation supervisor/business office manager Jessica Clark. Not available for the picture was Clark County Department of Social Services director Pamela Kernan. Valerie Brecht/Clark County Press
By Valorie Brecht
The Clark County Department of Social Services took the time recently to honor a group of people having a positive impact on their community.
The department held its annual Appreciation Banquet Oct. 13 to recognize volunteer drivers who give of their time throughout the year to help the elderly and disabled get to and from their medical appointments.
“These people provide a much-needed service for our Clark County residents as a volunteer without wage and minimal mileage reimbursement,” wrote Susan Caacbay, transportation coordinator, in a letter about the program.
This year for the Volunteer Transportation Program, 20 drivers completed 1,733 trips and logged 72,482.61 miles, the equivalent of 22 trips from Maine to California. The drivers also accumulated 2,367.47 volunteer hours.
Most of those hours were spent taking passengers to medical appointments, such as dialysis or cancer treatment. But the volunteers also provided rides to folks needing to run errands, visit the salon or pick up groceries. Drivers have even taken passengers on long trips, as far as Milwaukee, for appointments.
The Appreciation Banquet took place in the Clark County Courthouse, in the county boardroom. Schmitty’s On Main catered the meal. Also that day, drivers completed a training on driver etiquette and managing confrontation. The drivers are required to complete training every year.
Clark County Social Services was appreciative to all the businesses that donated raffle baskets, prizes and gift certificates, which were given to the drivers.
The Volunteer Transportation Program is for passengers 60 years of age or older, persons with disabilities and other approved persons.
People may apply to be a driver or passenger through this program by filling out the appropriate form at www.clarkcountywi.gov/dss-transportation-services. People may also contact Social Services at 715-743-5233 to apply.
If a client is found to be eligible for services, it is then determined if the client will be responsible for a co-payment based on their financial ability and insurance plan.
