Transportation

• Friendly, screened volunteers to share a ride and a conversation
• Escorted rides help to ensure that the client gets to and from appointments safely
• Easy to schedule with our friendly, helpful transportation coordinator
• Peace of mind for client, family and friends

Transportation services are available for clients who:
- Are unable to access public transportation because of short or long-term physical limitations (including cognitive impairments)
- Do not have friends and relatives who are available/able to provide transportation
- Require an escort

There are two types of transportation services available: escorted and agency van.

Escorted Rides

Dependable volunteers provide transportation services assisting people to and from medical appointments, banking and other essential needs.  One of our friendly, screened, trained volunteers will drive and escort you to and from appointments. Volunteers provide this service using their own vehicle. 

A volunteer will not drop off a client at any location other than their home, unless previously booked through the Transportation scheduler.

Agency Vehicles

Our vehicles provide drop off and pick up transportation to medical appointments, day programs and group shopping.  

Fee for Services:
$9.00 for all return rides within the Cities of Kitchener and Cambridge
$13.00 for all rides that start in Kitchener and cross the border of Waterloo
$15.00 for all rides that start in Kitchener and go beyond Lexington Road/Columbia Street in Waterloo

Please call the office for all other rates.

Bookings are taken between 8:30am and 4:00pm Monday to Friday.

We suggest a minimum of two business days notice for booking rides. However, lots of advance notice is always best to ensure that there is an available volunteer driver.

Please call the office the day before your ride by 3pm to cancel.

Dave Krupp, Driver

Dave became involved with the organization shortly after he retired. “I was looking for something to do that was helpful to others, and not just a selfish thing,” he says. “So I looked into the work that RAISE did. Driving seemed like the perfect fit.”

Along with driving for CSC, Dave fits a number of exciting ventures into his life. He is an avid bowler, playing twice a week, as well as a golfer. He sings in both the Schneider Mill’s male chorus and his own church choir. Dave and his wife are also quite the world travellers, having journeyed to China, India, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.    

Dave says driving is a great way to volunteer because it really provides a structure to your day while at the same time giving you flexibility.

“It’s not like a job...you commit to a certain time frame each week, but you can change if you need to, it still gives you that room for change.”

Dave says that he has had many memorable encounters over his years as a volunteer. He remembers driving a few people who were virtually blind and being amazed at how well they were coping. “It certainly humbles you, and makes you grateful for what you’ve got. It is rewarding because the people are always thankful for the service. It really is nice to be useful.”

Dave says that he’ll be driving for the organization “until the cars croak”. And we thank him for this!

Emilie Brown, Transportation Coordinator

Emilie Brown has been working with us for over 17 years. She started off at RAISE Home Support as a volunteer doing shopping runs for clients. She began working part time in the office shortly after that, and before long was working full time coordinating transportation for clients. She has been the voice behind all of our rides for 12 years and counting! 

For Emilie, it is the daily interaction with clients that make the job so rich. “Often times,” she says, “the clients' histories are a lot like my own. There are many clients that I’ve spoken to for years and years, some I’ve known better than my own family.”

As much as these relationships can be fulfilling, she admits that they can also be hard at times. “You see a lot of clients come and go, both physically and mentally. Sometimes this can be hard, because you remember how vibrant they once were. It just makes you realize how fine that line is between here and there.”

But don’t expect this friendly voice to disappear from CSC anytime soon. When asked when she might one day retire, Emilie’s response was a jubilant, “I intend to work until I am 101, although I may need to assign my own volunteer driver to get me here.”