PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) has welcomed a brand-new van to their volunteer transportation program. 

 

The new 8 passenger van, a 2023 all-wheel drive Toyota Sienna owned by the City of Pittsfield, replaces an 11-year-old Honda Odyssey.

 

The RSVP Van Transportation Program is available for Pittsfield residents to get a ride to and from medical appointments, social engagements, activities at the senior center, and RSVP volunteer jobs. It is a free service, and the van is operated by RSVP volunteers. The van transportation program has been operated by RSVP since the purchase of the first vehicle in January of 1974. In 2022, the RSVP Van Transportation Program provided 1,413 rides to 731 clients.

 

The RSVP van is available Monday through Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., it is not an on- demand service and does require at least 48 hours (two full business days of notice) to book a ride.

 

The service is available for Pittsfield clients that can assist themselves in and out of the vehicle. In an effort to increase transportation options for Berkshire County residents, RSVP along with Berkshire Community Action Council launched The Wheels for Wellness Program in June of 2021. The program was scheduled to launch in March of 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID- 19 pandemic. Wheels for Wellness enables RSVP to provide transportation county-wide. The program relies on volunteers who drive their own vehicles to provide transportation to and from medical appointments and food pantries to clients throughout Berkshire County.

 

The Wheels for Wellness Program was launched in the hopes of bridging the gaps that many elderly and low-income citizens in the community have with accessing transportation to get to their medical appointments.

 

"Because Berkshire County is primarily a rural community with limited access to public transportation services, our mission is to target and aid low-income seniors, and economically disadvantaged residents who experience transportation inequity and food insecurity," said Lisa Torrey, Director of RSVP.

 

RSVP verifies that the volunteer drivers are in good standing with their insurance on their vehicles, have a clean driving record with an active license, and a valid registration. Like the RSVP Van Transportation Program, this program is also not an on-demand service and requires a minimum of 48 hours to book a ride. The client must be able to assist themselves in and out of the vehicle.

 

2022 was the first full year of service for Wheels for Wellness and 29 RSVP volunteers provided 1,733 rides to 573 clients. The program runs Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

The City of Pittsfield along with RSVP is committed to recruiting our senior population of residents aged 55 and above to help strengthen our city and our county by fulfilling unmet community needs through volunteer service. Currently RSVP of Berkshire County is partnered with over 60 non-profit organizations county-wide and helps to support these agencies by providing volunteers.

 

Since 1973, the City of Pittsfield has served as the local sponsor of RSVP, supporting, and promoting the volunteer opportunities available through the program. RSVP, a federal program since 1971, is funded in part by AmeriCorps Seniors. The Retired Senior Volunteer Program is one of the largest volunteer efforts in the country for people 55 and older, providing recruitment, training, and placement. There are currently 5,000 host agencies in 50 states, with more than 400,000 volunteers. To learn more about volunteering opportunities or to learn more about the transportation programs, call the RSVP office at (413) 499-9345.