Reston Community Center (RCC) has announced the launch of NV Rides Reston, a transportation program that offers reliable, personalized transportation to Reston adults 55 years and older who cannot drive. This program provides door-to-door rides to help get older adults to important engagements, ranging from social and enrichment activities to medical appointments. NV Rides services are provided exclusively by volunteer drivers, free of charge, to anyone age 55 or older who resides in RCC Tax District boundaries. The map is available at http://goo.gl/W4TYRH. There are no income-level requirements.
“I am thrilled to see RCC address the critical need of affordable and accessible transportation for the growing population of older adults in Reston,” said Beverly Cosham, Chairman of RCC Board of Governors. “The RCC Board and staff team have been studying this program for many months and we are very happy to bring this volunteer driver approach to Reston.”
NV Rides Reston is part of a network of service providers who coordinate volunteer driver transportation programs throughout Fairfax County. The development and administration of NV Rides is a unique partnership between Fairfax County, the Jewish Council for the Aging, and the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia. The program partners use cloud-based software, “RideScheduler,” to assist staff in posting and assigning rides. This user-friendly system allows drivers to accept a ride with a click of a button; it also generates route maps and sends drivers reminders of upcoming appointments.
“In order for this program to be successful in our community, we hope that a large number of community members will apply to become volunteer drivers,” said Eileen Boone, RCC Director of Leisure & Learning. All volunteer driver applicants will undergo a thorough DMV and background check paid for by NV Rides Reston. Once volunteer drivers have been approved, they will learn how to use the easy-to-use web-based scheduling system, RideScheduler, where they will be able to freely choose the appointments that best suit their personal schedule – no minimum number of rides required. Volunteer drivers will also receive a mileage report for their annual tax filings. Interested volunteer drivers can apply immediately by going to www.restoncommunitycenter.com/about-reston/nv-rides-reston/become-a-driver.
NV Rides Reston will connect local volunteer drivers with older adults and be part of the community’s caring infrastructure that allows people who can’t drive to continue to safely and independently live in their own homes and neighborhoods as they age. RCC hopes that this transportation program will enhance their quality of life by providing them access to support services and social programs. It simultaneously helps the friends and families of our non-driving older neighbors by reducing the stress of worrying about getting to essential services and Reston Community Center programs.
For more detailed information about this, please contact Karen Brutsché, RCC 55+ Program Director and NV Rides Reston Coordinator, at 703-390-6198 or Karen.Brutsche@fairfaxcounty.gov, or visit www.restoncommunitycenter.com/nv-rides-reston.