By Don Lowe
While it’s nice to go virtually anywhere we want locally by walking out to our vehicles, starting them up and driving off, the Economic Security Corporation (ESC) in Joplin, Missouri, recognized not everyone can do that so easily and created Community Action Ride System (CARS), which is a perfect solution for those who need it most.
Although this initiative only started a year ago, Cavanaugh Studyvin, community organizer – Community Action Ride System, says this invaluable resource has quickly become an asset, and she says, “It’s (CARS) a volunteer driver program that’s proven to be very successful.
“CARS is the product of amazing, hardworking and dedicated individuals (volunteer drivers) within our communities (across Southwest Missouri) that are helping their fellow neighbors with one of our area’s biggest barriers.”
In explaining how the concept of CARS was conceived to serve residents in Barton, Jasper, Newton and McDonald counties, Cavanaugh says, “Transportation was prioritized as a top need in Economic Security Corporation’s Community Needs Assessment (CNA) in 2023. Transportation is a major barrier to work, healthcare, food, education and other basic needs.
“Focus groups representing each county in the CNA assessed that each of their areas are rural and hard to reach without transportation, including not having any public transit options due to the widespread (remote) nature of these counties, limited capabilities of transporting people from smaller to bigger towns and an increase for the need of extended reach and hours of availability.”
Sharing some of the data, she continues, “Additionally, the CNA showed 59% of residents in ESC’s four-county service area cannot afford the cost to maintain a vehicle, 49% cannot afford car insurance and 52% do not have money for a down payment on an automobile. In November 2023, planning began to confront this need head-on.”
Those who benefit from this program are wide-ranging, and Cavanaugh says, “Numbers show transportation is a need for every age. We have more than 400 clients who have mobility restrictions or conditions that make it difficult for them to drive anymore. We have more than 120 children who get rides (with their parent and/or guardian) to daycare and school.
“The CARS program has completed more than 210,000 miles, equaling more than 12,500 trips to 582 destinations in less than a full year. Overall, 25% of our rides are for non-emergency medical visits, 18% are for employment, 15% for education opportunities and school, 9% for general services, and the list goes on and on.”
Providing more perspective, she says, “Each of the four counties has different needs. McDonald County has more rides for dialysis than any other category of needs. Barton County has one of the highest percentages of rides for employment.
“The beauty of this program is CARS fits so many needs, like court appointments, grocery shopping, pick-ups at food banks, running general household errands such as paying bills, finalizing taxes, going to community centers, taking pets to the vet and being dropped off to vote.
“We had a client call recently because their car is going to be in the shop for three weeks and they need transportation until the repairs are completed. We’ve also had clients use CARS for months, while they save enough money to purchase their own vehicles.”
Those who give of their time to help make CARS run smoothly is a big deal, and Cavanaugh says, “The ownership our volunteer drivers take when they talk about this program, recruit other drivers or connect individuals with resources is truly a testament to the heart of these volunteers and how much they care for our communities.
“Our drivers want to see this succeed and love being part of it. Many of our volunteers are retired, and they tell us this program allows them to get out of the house, socialize and support their fellow neighbors.”
These drivers are driven to help, and she says, “It’s opened their eyes to the difference they’re making and the impact on the lives of every individual they serve. The volunteers know that transportation can be challenging but didn’t realize the extent until they started driving with us.
“If there are mobility restrictions, our drivers can assist, not just ‘curb-to-curb,’ but sometimes even helping get someone right to their door. They go the extra mile, making sure they’re on time and getting clients to their appointments early. Not to mention, the great conversations drivers have with clients on the way to their appointments and back home.”
When she considers what makes this program work, Cavanaugh says, “Our drivers are the heart and soul of it. They’re the reason clients keep calling back. They feel safe and supported, and most of them finally receive access to things many of us take for granted.
“Another key to our success is we make the process to receive a ride easy. If you’re a resident of our four-county service area, you’re eligible. It takes 60 seconds (phone call) to set up a rider profile, then you just call and schedule a ride. Transportation is enough of a barrier. We don’t want it to be complicated.”
As for monetary support that is so vital for this program, she says, “CARS is funded in many ways. We’ve been grateful to receive private donations, awarded community grants, formed partnerships with area non-profit organizations and gotten corporate sponsorships.
“We’ve also received some state-allocated funding. But this is a huge undertaking. Unfortunately, we’re not designated as public transportation. So, we don’t qualify for most of the transportation funding. This program is community driven, so funding needs to be as well.”
Personally, Cavanaugh is ecstatic to be so heavily involved in this effort and says, “I’ve never created a community program ever in my career, let alone something of this magnitude. Over the past 10 months, I’ve connected with our clients, and the drivers have become part of my family.
“I’m thrilled to be part of it and helping make a difference in the lives of my fellow neighbors. Who knew just a single ride could change someone’s life? I’m as grateful to our riders and drivers as they are to CARS.
“The success of CARS demonstrates the power of community-driven solutions and shows how, together, we can make a profound impact. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that?”
Community Action Ride System (CARS) Fast Facts
When it Started: Launched May 1, 2024, with five volunteer drivers serving Barton, Jasper, Newton and McDonald counties.
Team: Ryan Peterson, Chief Executive Officer of Economic Security Corporation (ESC); Tammy Walker, Director of Community Development & Deputy Director of ESC; Cavanaugh Studyvin, Community Organizer; and Laticha Lavallee, Transportation Intake Coordinator
Volunteer Drivers: Currently 30 drivers across all four counties.
Physical Address: Joplin Central Office, 302 S. Joplin Ave., Joplin, Missouri
For More Information: Email Cavanaugh Studyvin at cstudyvin@ escswa.org or call 417.627.2084
Phone Number to Schedule a Ride: 417.438.2925
Website: www.escswa.org/cars