The Villages Medical Auxiliary (VMA) has been providing transportation to medical and dental appointments since the early 1980s. Unfortunately, we are now at a crossroads where this valuable service may no longer be possible. We currently have only 28 volunteers available to drive our residents to their appointments, but we receive around 35 requests each month. Ideally, each volunteer would need to drive less than twice a month, but that’s not always possible. Some volunteers are unable to drive because of their own travel, illness, appointments, etc., while others can only commit to one trip. Some volunteers don’t answer their phones, which increases the burden on those who are more available. In fact, a few of our dedicated volunteers are driving as much as three to four times per month, which is simply not sustainable.
There have been many new residents who recently moved to The Villages over the last couple of years, and they may not yet be aware of this opportunity. Volunteering involves just about two hours of your time per appointment, plus your mileage is reimbursed. You choose the day and whether you’re available in the morning or afternoon. If you haven’t volunteered before, consider it a way to do a good deed or to pay it forward, as there may come a time when you or someone you know might need this service. As President of the VMA, I would be terribly disappointed to have this amenity disappear. The VMA would be incredibly grateful if we could gain an additional 20 to 30 volunteers.
To volunteer or for questions, please call the VMA (408-238-4230) or check our website: https://vmavillages.vgcc.club/
