Volunteering with Eastside Friends of Seniors

A deeply meaningful part of my life these days is the time I spend volunteering as a driver for Eastside Friends of Seniors. It is a simple act - picking someone up from their home and taking them to appointments or out to run an errand. But the joy of the connection, of knowing just a little bit of my time can help someone be independent, is something that I treasure.

Today, I gave a ride to Gilly, a sweet lady probably in her 70s, whom I was meeting for the first time. A few days earlier, I had signed up for the ride on the EFS volunteer portal. The process is simple—just log in, browse the list of requested rides, and choose one that fits your schedule. With a click or two, the ride is confirmed, and then, a day before the appointment, we connect by phone to finalize the details.

I pulled up to Gilly’s house a few minutes early. I heard her call out, “Just a minute!” when I knocked on her door and had a little wait before she made her appearance, neatly dressed with her handbag draped on her walker. Fortunately, the rain decided to take a break as we got her settled into the car. Behind her smile, I could tell she was a little bit anxious, and I let her open up about how long it had taken her to get this appointment and different things she had read. I tried my best to reassure her, telling her that she was being very proactive and taking good care of herself. I did not have to rely on the GPS as Gilly was very familiar with the ins and outs of our route, and she had her disabled parking placard ready for me so that I could park right near the entrance to the clinic. 

Gilly was happy for me to accompany her to the clinic, her mood becoming a little lighter in the bright hustle around us. She did not have long to wait and while she was with the doctor I spent my time in the waiting room catching up on a few emails.  I was so happy to see her return looking relaxed and relieved. She was much more talkative on the return trip, sharing about her family and the many places she had lived over the years. She also told me how much she has relied on EFS over the past year and how grateful she is for the support. “It takes such a weight off my family - they don’t live close and are often unable to help me.”

There’s something deeply touching about the way these rides end. The words of gratitude, spoken sincerely, always stay with me. A simple “thank you” can carry so much meaning, and in those moments, I’m reminded why I do this. I feel gratitude, too—that something as small as a bit of my time can make a real difference in someone’s life.