Ways to Work – Electric Vehicle Program
Our Project Linkage volunteer driver, Roger Farnen, was awarded Ride Connection’s 2017 Multnomah County Volunteer Driver!
Congratulations, Roger! 🚌
Read a transcript of the introduction made at Ride Connection’s Annual Volunteer Recognition Event by Molly Hanson, Project Linkage Coordinator.
“Roger Farnen had a neighbor that that was a long time Project Linkage client, after seeing the variety of services his neighbor received he was inspired to connect with his community through PL. So when he retired on he rode his bike over to the Project Linkage office, the following Monday, walked in the front door and said he would like to volunteer, what did he need to do?
I gave him the paperwork to fill out, he brought it back in record time, completed the training and told Marcy he wanted to drive 5 days a week, Marcy said “No you will burn out”, so they agreed on 3 days a week. Roger drives an agency vehicle all day and drives a schedule that most paid drivers drive. Since July when Roger was activated as a driver he has provided 595 hours of service, logged 5941 miles and given 725 rides. Roger is extremely flexible and has no limitations on the type of rides he can do, all of which make him invaluable. Roger is always looking to improve efficiencies, so he brings back critical information to help us increase capacity.
In addition to providing transportation Roger is one of our minor home repair volunteers and has been able to identify transportation clients that can use some help with the squeaks and leaks in their homes. He also volunteers for Elders in Action and Reach and recently helped build a wheelchair ramp to increase the mobility of the residents.
But wait, there’s more! Sometimes we see him outside the windows of the office, he’s trimming the trees so they don’t rub on the roof, pruned the shrubs so the visibility has increased when pulling out into traffic, he and his wife pulled all the ivy out of our yard and even hauls all the debris away. He has even worked on our building fixing leaky drains, reducing drafts in the basement and changing the light bulbs on the porch.
Roger is a person that we are lucky to know. He lives in and contributes to our community, there are times when the only reason we know Roger has been there is because he leaves it in better condition than he found it. This seems to be his approach to life, and we are all better because he’s been here.”
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