STARS - Sisters Transportation and Ride Share

Throughout April, we have highlighted the personal benefits to those who choose to donate their time and talents as volunteers. Our passengers have long touted the benefits they reap from receiving reliable, free rides to their non-emergency medical appointments. They enjoy the company of the drivers, the ease of working with dispatchers who schedule their rides, and most of all, the ability to attend the medical appointments that keep them living independently.

Think about how important it is to live independently for as long as you can. Sisters Country has many attributes, but we do not have assisted living here. We at STARS want our neighbors to flourish in their homes. Ordering groceries and meals delivered to their homes helps non-drivers stay in place, but we cannot have a medical lab test, a procedure, or a doctor’s visit be delivered. Instead, we pull must together to help those in need of rides to scheduled medical appointments. It’s a joyous commitment and a practical solution to a community-wide problem. Come and pull together with us. We hope our posts will inspire you to join in and experience the good feelings that come from connecting authentically with the neighbor or new friend who needs our service. When we help our riders to get to medical appointments, we are helping them to stay independent and thriving. It helps us who volunteer to thrive, as well. To volunteer, visit https://www.starsride.org/drive-for-us or https://www.starsride.org/dispatch-for-us. STARS reimburses for mileage.

Sisters Transportation and Ride Share has the proud mission of “Keeping Sisters Healthy One Ride at a Time!”

TO PROTECT AND TO SERVE...meet Chris West, STARS Volunteer, pictured here with a doughnut!
After 25 years as an officer on the Los Angeles Police Department, the police mission statement was ingrained in Chris’s personality. A very popular volunteer driver, Chris has found his way to continue “to serve” his community. To his passengers, he is famous for his conversational skills and for his treat of doughnuts for his passengers! When asked what keeps him driving, Chris answered, “Doing the right thing. It’s not that tedious to figure out how to do the right thing. All of my passengers are so grateful, and so are the medical professionals they visit. You get to hear people’s stories. Meeting a new person is meeting someone full of stories you haven’t heard yet.” When talking to Chris about his trips with STARS passengers, it is clear that the role brings him joy and fulfillment. His passengers are helped to have healthier and independent lives, and Chris flourishes in his role.

A big shout out to all of our volunteers. There would not be a STARS with Chris West and the whole team of generous folks. A big shout out to STARS itself. We are one of a kind, being the only ride share in the US that is 100% free to our passengers and powered by volunteers!

We hope our posts will inspire you to join in and experience the good feelings that come from connecting authentically with the neighbor or new friend who needs our service. When we help our riders to get to medical appointments, we are helping them to stay independent and thriving. It helps us who volunteer to thrive, as well. To volunteer, visit https://www.starsride.org/drive-for-us or https://www.starsride.org/dispatch-for-us. STARS reimburses for mileage.

Sisters Transportation and Ride Share has the proud mission of “Keeping Sisters Healthy One Ride at a Time!”

The desire for connection in her community is what motivated Kristy Rawls, pictured here with her husband Drew, to volunteer as a dispatcher for STARS. Working as a school teacher in the Sisters School District for the last 20 years of her 36-year career, satisfied Kristy’s deep need to be connected with her community. After retiring, Kristy wanted to make sure that she stayed connected in Sisters Country, so she volunteered to answer the calls to STARS and help our passengers book rides to their non-emergency medical appointments. When she heard about STARS, Kristy thought, “I can step up one day a month and volunteer, because this is a really critical service.” Kristy loves the role of dispatcher, in part because she can do it from the comfort of her own home. Kristy has a job at the Sisters Athletic Club and a busy life outside her home. So finding an organization that welcomed her limited participation without any demand to work more hours, has been the perfect fit. She calls STARS, “Welcoming without any pressure.” The added benefit to her has been in keeping her home one day per month. As many find, semi or full retirement can make for too active a life. Having the routine of dispatching from her home, is grounding for Kristy.

STARS wants you on our team. We hope our posts will inspire you to join in and experience the good feelings that come from connecting authentically with the neighbor or new friend who needs our service. When we help our riders to get to medical appointments, we are helping them to stay independent and thriving. It helps us who volunteer to thrive, as well.To volunteer visit https://www.starsride.org/drive-for-us or https://www.starsride.org/dispatch-for-us.

Sisters Transportation and Ride Share has the proud mission of “Keeping Sisters Healthy One Ride at a Time!”

STARS volunteers often serve in more than one role. Tom Gonsiewski, one of the founding members of STARS, enjoys juggling a variety of positions. After a career in public transportation, working for Tri-Met in Portland, Tom found a good volunteer fit helping develop our free ride-share program. As a founder and early volunteer, Tom helped to modify a software system that posts rides that our community members needed. Tom now serves as a board member, the Director of Operations, and a dispatcher, answering calls that come in from the community. Tom said of why he chose to work with STARS, “I’ve had a good and privileged life and wanted to give back. My draw to volunteering in medical transport came from experiences with a family member who needed many rides to medical appointments. I knew it could be difficult for people who couldn’t drive themselves.”
Tom says that the benefits that come from his volunteering include broadening his community and meeting folks from all walks of life. In addition to STARS giving him a sense of purpose, the fun and challenges of running a non-profit organization keep his mind active and sharp. He loves learning new things and working with a devoted team of people. Thank you, Tom, for all you do to make certain people can get to their non-emergency medical appointments!

We need more volunteers!! We hope our stories will inspire you to join in and experience the good feelings that come from connecting authentically with the neighbor or new friend who needs our service. When we help our riders to get to medical appointments, we are helping them to stay independent and thriving. It helps us who volunteer to thrive, as well.To volunteer visit https://www.starsride.org/drive-for-us or https://www.starsride.org/dispatch-for-us.

Sisters Transportation and Ride Share has the proud mission of “Keeping Sisters Healthy One Ride at a Time!”