Laviena Davis (left) a volunteer for 15 years with Interfaith Older Adult Programs, and her client Sandy Crawford have enjoyed getting to know each other. Davis dedicates five days a week to helping seniors across Milwaukee County get to where they need to go.

In Milwaukee County, 22 percent of residents live below the poverty level – many of whom are senior citizens who need your help. Whether in the city or suburbs, seniors across southeast Wisconsin need a way to get to the doctor, grocery store, pharmacy or other places they can no longer drive themselves, which is why the Drive. Give. Serve. program was created.

Through a collaborative effort, four area interfaith agencies in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties have developed and launched a comprehensive program to address the area’s growing need for senior transportation.

Drive. Give. Serve. secured private funding from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Nonprofit Management Fund and the Helen Daniels Bader Fund; and a grant from the Federal Transit Administration. The ultimate goal for the four agencies is to increase volunteer numbers in southeast Wisconsin and eventually expand the program statewide.

How to become involved

As the county with the largest population in the state, Milwaukee County has seen the number of those needing help continue to rise. An average of 200 seniors contact Interfaith Older Adult Programs every month for rides in the county. For medical, financial or safety reasons, they cannot drive themselves anymore – but the need for transportation remains. If you or somebody you know may be interested in volunteering, there are three easy ways to get involved:

Drive a senior. Volunteer to drive a senior and gain a friend in the process. No matter where you live or work, southeast Wisconsin seniors need help getting around town. While you might start off feeling like a chauffeur, you’ll end up feeling like a friend.

Give to our program. Looking for a unique way to give back? From collecting gas cards for volunteers, to allowing employees an hour off work to drive a senior to the doctor, there are many ways to help!

Serve by volunteering your time. There are many ways to meet the need for rides! You can help someone in need by delivering groceries, running errands or providing services to help seniors stay in their own homes.

If you would like more information about the program or how you can volunteer, please visit www.drivegiveserve.org or call 211.