Celebrating Volunteer Week!
April 20th – 26th is Volunteer Recognition Week! In 2024, our volunteers gave over 38,690 hours of their time to keep our customers moving. We also want to give thanks to Washman Car Wash for their continuous support of our volunteers. Read some stories about our awesome volunteers below.
Born and raised in LA, Steve made his way to Portland in the late 1970s. His introduction to Ride Connection came through his work at TriMet, where he supervised the call center. After retirement, he felt called to volunteer, eager to help those who face barriers to transportation access.
Reflecting on his work, he shared, “I love to introduce people to transit for the first time. Many haven’t ever been on public transit, and it’s really satisfying for me. By the end of the day, they’re excited by the new options they’ve discovered.”
One standout memory involved a trip to The Old Church for a weekly concert. When the performer canceled, one of the customers, a budding comedian, took the stage and transformed the moment into a shared, joyous experience.
We’re incredibly grateful to Steve for his years of dedication to Ride Connection’s mission. Thank you, Steve!
Patty met Bill on the day he moved into Columbia Terrace, their senior apartment building in SE Portland over 10 years ago. She thought he looked a bit overwhelmed from the move-in, so asked if she could bring him something to eat and they’ve been friends ever since!
Patty was already driving Bill to appointments, errands and lunch out when Ride Connection gave a presentation at their building. When the Ride Together program came up, they gave each other a look and asked more questions! Our Ride Together program allows customers to recruit friends or family to be their drivers. They schedule rides on their own, and drivers are reimbursed monthly for miles driven.
Patty signed up a few days later and to make it official, Bill surprised her with a chauffeurs hat for Christmas!
After retiring from a 40-year career as a social worker, Holly sought to continue making a difference, particularly around transportation barriers.
During the COVID pandemic, Holly began driving customers to medical appointments, and she now volunteers once a week using her own car. Holly’s compassion shines as she goes the extra mile—literally—by not only contacting her customers ahead of time but also helping them into buildings or offering emotional support.
She often asks about their pain levels, preferences for routes, and living situations while listening with empathy. Holly admires her customers’ resilience, saying, “People are doing the best they can—sometimes they just need a little help.” She loves getting to know the city better and finds fulfillment in continuing to assist others, hoping to inspire more people to join the effort. Thank you, Holly, for your passion, energy, and compassion!
Volunteering for Ride Connection is a rewarding and joyful experience.
Our volunteers make a huge difference in our community members’ lives. There are many ways to get involved and help us realize our mission. If you enjoy helping others and believe transportation is a basic human right, we want to hear from you!
Ways To Volunteer
Driver
Our customers rely on us for life sustaining rides to medical appointments, the grocery store, community centers, work, and more. Help them get there by volunteering to drive! You can drive your own vehicle, or one of ours.
Requirements for volunteer drivers include:
A valid driver’s license and 5+ years of driving experience.
Completing our volunteer application and interview process.
Ability to pass a criminal background and DMV check.
Completing training courses provided by Ride Connection (available in classroom or online).
Ride Ambassador
Have experience using the local bus and light rail system? Share your knowledge with people who are new to transit. Ride Ambassadors lead older adults on group trips to places like museums, gardens, and events, creating confidence and independence on local public transit systems.
Requirements for Ride Ambassadors include:
Experience riding public transit, including bus and light rail.
Completing our volunteer application and interview process.
Ability to pass a criminal background check with fingerprinting.
Completing six hours of training provided by Ride Connection.
Mission Support
Use your specific skillset to help with office work, sit on committees and advisory councils, or represent Ride Connection at community events. Find out more about opportunities to support our mission in and around the office.
Requirements for mission support volunteers include:
Completing our volunteer application and interview process.
Ability to pass a criminal background check.
Completing any relevant training pertaining to your volunteer role.
Volunteer Contact Form
We sincerely appreciate your interest! Tell us what appeals to you and our Volunteer Outreach Manager will give you a call within a few days to follow up.