Volunteer Interfaith Caregivers-Southwest

Volunteer Interfaith Caregivers Southwest (d/b/a Senior Rides and More) aims to accomplish our mission of assisting the frail and elderly with free transportation by expanding our program each year, thereby assisting more seniors each year. We serve by zip code and currently (2022) reach seniors in 47 zip codes. In 2023, we will be serving 49 zip codes. Over 2 million residents live within the city of Houston and many of them are over age 65. Senior resources in the fourth largest city are lacking and our goal is to alleviate the issue of affordable transportation to medical appointments and life-sustaining errands for as many seniors who meet our criteria as possible.

Collaboration, outreach, funding, and action are the primary ways to make any goals happen. Senior Rides and More works hand-in-hand with religious congregations to reach volunteers whose hearts lean toward helping seniors. We work with other nonprofits in the Houston and Fort Bend areas to share our services with those who are looking for assistance we offer, and we speak directly with the seniors to evaluate their needs and assist them in finding other services if necessary. We are like family to many of our seniors and without action on our part, their needs will not be met.

Senior Rides and More has been in service in the Houston/Fort Bend area for over 28 years. We are financially sound (and financially transparent) and have met every challenge we have faced as a small nonprofit in a world of large corporations. Our board of directors is strong and directly involved in our organization, and works hand-in-hand with our office staff to make mission driven decisions that move us forward. Our Executive Director has been with Senior Rides and More for 15 years. Staff longevity is the norm and is indicative of our family atmosphere and mission to serve.

Ten years ago we were able to reach more seniors when we gained funding to begin using Houston's Yellow Cab service to get our care receivers to their necessary medical appointments when not enough volunteers were available. Today, we now utilize Lyft and Uber to make this happen and 25-30% of our rides are completed through paid transportation services. Our seniors are no longer in fear of missing necessary medical appointments, or going without groceries or prescriptions due to lack of transportation. How can we make this happen? Through funding, of course. That is also the most challenging hurdle. Utilizing these services that eases the transportation challenges of our seniors is not free, and gaining the funding to continue our mission is a priority. Our next step is to wade into the waters of government grants and funding. A larger government grant could open the door that allows us to bring free transportation to hundreds more seniors in our service areas.