Help Saint raise $30,000 through our Annual Celebration of Connection on Sunday, November 1.
A doctor finished an appointment and asked the patient a simple question: "Who's taking you home today? Are you waiting for your angel?"
The answer came with a smile. "No, my Saint."
Most of us never think about the ride home. Then one day the car keys change hands, and every errand turns into a puzzle. It happens to the neighbor down the street. It happens to the parent who was always the one doing the driving. Someday, it may happen to you.
Last year, 130 volunteer drivers gave 21,539 free rides to 577 neighbors in Fort Collins and Loveland. They drove to clinic waiting rooms and grocery aisles, haircuts and volunteer shifts, part-time jobs and lunch with friends. Every one of those rides came with a friendly face at the door and someone who knew the rider's name.
What happens inside the car matters just as much as where it goes. 97% of riders say Saint helps them feel more independent. 80% say it helps them keep living in their own home. And 98% say the time with their driver improves their well-being.
Here's where you come in. Our goal is to raise $30,000 by November 1. Your gift reimburses volunteer drivers for their miles, keeps our schedulers matching riders with drivers, and keeps every ride free. Nearly 9 in 10 Saint riders live on low incomes, so free isn't a perk for them. It's the difference between getting to the appointment and staying home.
Join us on Sunday, November 1, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Fort Collins Senior Center for an evening of dinner, music, and a silent auction. You'll hear directly from the riders and volunteer drivers whose stories are behind every number on this page. Tickets are $50, or $35 for seniors, at SaintCelebration.eventbrite.com. If you can't make it, a gift here counts toward the same goal.
Think of your gift as an investment in the community you want to grow old in. A place where a neighbor's ride to the doctor doesn't depend on who happens to be free that afternoon. A place where your parents can say yes to lunch with friends. A place where, when your own turn comes, the ride is already there.
Give before November 1, and the next time someone asks a Saint rider who's taking them home, you'll be part of the answer.
Together, $30,000 keeps about 2,000 rides on the road.
"I had to choose between buying groceries and getting to a doctor’s appointment." - Saint Rider
No one in our community should ever have to make that decision. A Saint ride helps ease the pressure of choices no one should have to make. It means someone will show up at her door, call her by name, help her settle into the car, and make sure she gets where she needs to go — with dignity. These are the living rooms your generosity reaches.
"It makes you a little more independent when you've arranged your own ride and also gives your family, friends and neighbor a break from always driving you." - Saint Rider"Most helpful, phone scheduler is outstanding! Drivers are always polite, safe and friendly. Best service available!" - Saint Rider
"I am a caregiver (daughter-in-law) for a client with dementia. Saint has been a true blessing for us and has allowed us to keep our loved one "home" with us and has delayed putting him in Memory Care. The drivers have all been wonderful to him, and he stands at the door waiting each day for his friends! Can't thank you enough. A lifesaver for us!" - Saint Rider's Caregiver
"I think what you do is perfect. You helped me out so much. It would be impossibly hard without Saints. It's truly amazing what Saint does. The best service anywhere!" - Saint Rider
"One of my riders reminds me that no matter how little we may have, there's joy and wonder to be found everywhere in this beautiful world." - John, Saint driver for 2 years
“With SAINT, I don’t feel helpless.” - Saint Rider
SAINT's mission is to help seniors and people with disabilities maintain their independence and self-sufficiency by providing them with a connection to the community through personalized door-to-door transportation.
SAINT Volunteer Transportation was founded in 1983 in Fort Collins by two women who believed there were elderly people in the community who could remain in their own homes longer if they only had transportation assistance. They knew that there were people in the community who would help with that transportation if they were contacted. They started SAINT with a small seed grant on a card table at city hall. SAINT has grown and expanded to help people with disabilities and to serve Loveland over the years, but has kept the same mission of keeping people independent by mobilizing volunteers to provide rides to all the goods and services people need to maintain a reasonable quality of life at home.
Organization name
Saint Volunteer Transportation
other names
SAINT
1983
Tax id (EIN)
84-0626086
Category
Human Services
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
333 W. Drake Road Suite 42Larimer County, CO, US
Phone
970 223 8604
Other
970-223-8604