Senior living

DRIVING PEOPLE NOT CARGO…RCATS IS IN NEED OF DRIVERS

Story & Photos by Kim Allgood, Community Engagement and Volunteer Coordinator

Bruce Alston has been transporting the residents of Randolph County to doctor appointments, to drug and grocery stores, to senior centers and even to disabilities, human service agencies, and the general public are provided on a county-wide basis. Clean, comfortable, dependable vans, some of which are work and school for 23 years. Bruce joined Regional Coordinated Area Transportation System (RCATS) December 16, 1997 and has a message for people out there looking for a fulfilling part-time job helping others - come try on the RCATS vest and awesome responsibilities and see if this vital job is the right fit for YOU!

RCATS provides public transportation service to all Randolph and Montgomery County residents on an advance reservation basis. In Randolph County, RCATS provides transportation for thousands of trips for seniors and the general public. Curb-to-Curb transportation services for older adults, persons with equipped with special accessibility features, are used to transport passengers. Drivers are trained in First Aid, CPR, defensive driving and in other safety-related areas. RCATS drivers take on great responsibility but as Bruce explains, “Being an RCATS driver definitely has its perks - for example it’s basically a Monday through Friday job and then you’re home at night. You get paid holidays and you’re not expected to drive in certain weather conditions. You get to work with people but work independently at the same time.” Also, a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is NOT required, and thorough paid training is provided. Bruce does have some advice for anyone interested in becoming an RCATS driver, “You need to be able to handle a certain amount of responsibility, and you have to be good at working with the public. You also must like DRIVING!” When asked what led him to join RSAA as an RCATS driver 23 years ago he simply said, “I love driving and I’m driving people not cargo” and when asked why he has stayed with the job all these years he explained, “The older I get, I appreciate seniors more and more. It takes a lot of patience sometimes, but one day we’re all going to need some help getting around. I’ve gained so much personally.” Another faithful driver is Paul Hogan. Paul recently celebrated his 5th year with RSAA. After retiring in 2015, he moved from up north to Asheboro, NC to be with family and said he kept seeing the RCATS vans everywhere around town. He walked in the Asheboro Senior Center and asked what the buses were all about. He put in an application, was hired and has been making people smile ever since. Paul said “That’s the best part of the job – making somebody smile. I try to make it a fun time on the bus ride by joking and just finding out more about the people who are

riding. Some of these people have nobody and if I can make them smile, I’ve done my job.” Paul is well known for his special cheerleading ability when he comes in the office in the morning and back after his day’s work and hollers…and I mean hollers, “RCATS!!!!” If you’re a new employee in the office, it just might catch you off guard! Why does he do this? Paul explained, “It’s just natural. I enjoy my job, so I yell it out!” Paul spends most days transporting people to dialysis appointments. This is especially rewarding to him because for 2 ½ years his wife received dialysis while waiting for a kidney transplant (which she received and is doing well). Speaking of rewarding – like most people who work for a nonprofit agency, Paul is “not doing this job to get rich. That’s not why we do this but for some, we’re all these people have”. He said, there was a day that he had an especially difficult challenging situation and he heard “God” whisper to him, “Just love her.” That’s how he treats everyone who takes his fun bus ride and hopes others will heed the call to become an RCATS driver and will just love them.

At RSAA, we recognize how essential it is to continue to provide RCATS trips, especially to those who rely on it for medical purposes. The pandemic presented many challenges, but we’ve worked hard to provide the safest environment possible—both for the rider and our employees. With these provisions in place and because of devoted employees like Bruce Alston and Paul Hogan and all the other drivers and RCATS’ leadership, RCATS hasn’t missed a single day of service since the pandemic began and most importantly, seniors who rely on RCATS for critical medical appointments haven’t had to worry.

Unfortunately, we are challenged with a new situation. Organizations and companies alike have seen the past year and a half of the Covid-19 pandemic drastically affect employment. Everyone is seeking good employees to keep their businesses afloat. RSAA, too, is in great need of employees, particularly RCATS drivers. If you are someone who thinks you have the special qualities it takes and are in search of a part-time opportunity in a rewarding job helping the residents of Randolph and Montgomery counties, YOU just might be the right fit for RCATS! Please go to www. senioradults.org or call 336-625-3389 ext. 228 and apply today!

Randolph Senior Adults Association is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization, serving Randolph County since 1975. It is an organization of individuals who are interested in improving the quality of life for Randolph County residents who are 50 years of age and older and in serving as advocates in their behalf.