The Helping Hands Society of Cochrane and Area is in need of volunteers for their Volunteer Driver Program. 

Helping Hands is a volunteer linking organization and registered charity. They link people who help with people who need help. "The volunteers fill unmet human needs and strengthen the community."

The Volunteer Drive Program, created in 2016 is a transportation program which is designed to assist citizens who are low income, seniors, ill or injured, access to affordable local and inter-municipal transportation (between communities) for their medical appointments and essential outings. Helping Hands drivers provided 460 rides in 2019 and continues to grow rapidly.

Excecutive Director, Matthew Hagel says, " We are seeing probably, 85 percent of our rides are in to Calgary now. A lot of the folks (drivers) really enjoy the drive into Calgary and then instead of waiting around at the appointment they can go and do some errands and come back and pick up the person and run them back to Cochrane." 

Hagel adds, "Drivers are reimbursed with an honorary agreement called "driver recovery" where for rides in and around town it is 5 dollars and it goes up to 20 to 25 dollars if they are going into the city. Generally, the client will pay the driver at the beginning of the ride so it keeps it pretty simple. But we don't want hold back anyone that isn't able pay and Helping Hands will supplement that and help the driver out."

Volunteers are required to have a criminal record check done, but Helping Hands will reimburse the 10 dollar cost.

If you are interested in volunteering for Helping Hands please click here.