From the Cover

WEBSTER ASSOCIATION OF SENIOR PROGRAM SUPPORTERS

Serving the Transportation Needs of Webster Seniors

Nearly 9,500 Webster residents are seniors, a population that is growing every day nationwide. These senior citizens—our beloved friends, family members, and neighbors—need a growing number of services, one of the most important of which is transportation. The Webster Association of Senior Program Supporters is continuing to meet this need for Webster seniors.

The Webster Association of Senior Program Supporters (WSPS) was originally founded in July 2007 by John Johnston, Dennis Gellasch, George Turner, Dave Gibson, Sandy Merel, and Faith Bell. Their intention was to achieve more Senior representation at the Parks and Recreation Center; however, in August 2010, WSPS evolved into giving a neighbor a ride to a medical appointment. Today, WSPS has blossomed into a booming organization that has supported hundreds of seniors who live in the Webster School District, which includes Webster, a good portion of Penfield, small portions of Ontario, and Walworth.

WSPS provides transportation for senior retirees and disabled residents who live within the Webster School District. WSPS drives Webster seniors to such appointments as medical/dialysis/ chemotherapy, dental, physical therapy, pharmacy visits, health related shopping, banking, hairdresser/barber, and tax preparation services. Webster’s need for senior transportation is only growing.

“There are 10,000 Baby Boomers retiring every day,” said David Norton, WSPS Vice President. “Our recent numbers reflect that.” 2020 was an outlier, however, WSPS provided 1,222 total trips to Webster seniors in 2019 and 2,229 total trips in 2021, expending 2,252 and traveling approximately 31,658 miles. The 501c3 nonprofit expects to provide more than 3,000 total trips by the end of 2023.

The positive impacts of WSPS cannot be overstated. “Thanks to WSPS, my health is better, and my worry is less,” says WSPS client

Karen K. “I am confident they will pick me up on time, get me to my appointment, take care of me, and get me home. My family does not have to worry or take time off of work. I thank them from the bottom of my heart, and I don’t know what I would do without them.”

Several additional WSPS clients have also expressed their gratitude for WSPS. “I thank God for the wonderful people who volunteer their time to help us seniors, and I have met some wonderful and friendly drivers through the WSPS program,” said one. “WSPS drivers are super people and Webster heroes!” exclaimed another. “WSPS is a big comfort. Four of my neighbors have used your service,” yet another confirmed.

“Many of the seniors we transport are trying to stay in their own homes,” said WSPS Board Member Deb Reilly. “Some of our clients’ children live out of state, and they have the peace of mind of knowing that we are here to help take their parents to important medical appointments. We are truly helping seniors stay independent in their own homes and apartments.”

Uniquely, WSPS volunteer drivers stay with the seniors they drive throughout their appointments, waiting for them in waiting areas, in their vehicles, or

Requesting a ride from WSPS is simple

Log on to websterwasps.com or call WSPS transportation at 585-216-7829

You will need the following information:

name, address, phone number; day/date, time, location name, and street address of your appointment. (We will create a profile for you to serve you more efficiently after your first call.) Rides are provided Monday-Friday with the earliest appointment being 9:00 AM and the latest being 2:30 PM. A minimum of 3 days is needed to arrange a ride, not counting the day of your call, weekends, or the day of the appointment. Messages left on the WSPS voicemail are checked daily. Please note: For safety, we can offer transportation for individuals newly discharged from rehabilitation and after procedures while under anesthesia ONLY

with family member or personal advocate accompanying the individual.

nearby. Webster seniors riding with WSPS can enjoy the comfort of knowing there is always someone near at hand with no long waits or concerns that a ride may not come. While WSPS does have an agreement with a medical transport service to use their cars and drivers in the event that they cannot provide the transportation requested, the organization has found that the vast majority of its clients will change their appointments, if at all possible, to enjoy the prompt, courteous service WSPS provides.

WSPS benefits also go beyond transportation. “Other than their next-door neighbor, our volunteers are often the only other people these seniors are talking to, and we get to listen to some great stories,” says WSPS President Mike Donovan. “That is part of what we are all about: providing that human interaction, and it is very important.”

In fact, volunteers are the driving force behind WSPS: all of its members are volunteers, with the exception of its three parttime dispatchers. While WSPS currently enjoys a team of 49 volunteer drivers, each driver sets their own schedule, drives as much or as little as they are able or prefer, and several are only available during certain months. With the rising number of ride requests, additional volunteer drivers are always needed.

Drivers wishing to volunteer are offered both training and support. WSPS is overseen by Lifespan under its Give-a-Lift program, and Lifespan provides a 2.5-3-hour training seminar to WSPS volunteer drivers, including such important information as assisting seniors with different abilities and how to handle and pack various walkers, etc. Lifespan also vets drivers and their driving records, makes certain drivers are insured, provides each driver with a photo ID, and has an umbrella policy on liability should a driver’s personal liability be exceeded. Each driver then receives orientation from WSPS, a WSPS shirt should they choose to wear it, and a ride-along experience so that they are ready to serve Webster seniors with confidence.

The Webster Association of Senior Program Supporters would like to say a special thanks to these organizations and businesses for funding our operation in 2022:

Town of Webster • Village of Webster Vision Hyundai of Webster • Royal Car Wash Karpus Foundation • Excellus • Masonic Services Nine Mile Point Club • OcuSight Eye Care Eyesite of Penfield • Webster Family Dentistry Sons of American Legion Post Webster American Legion Auxiliary Webster • Hegedorn’s Lattimore PT Webster • Scott’s Funeral Home Lakeside Building Supply • Knights of Columbus

WSPS is available to speak with your organization about the service we provide. Please reach out to us to schedule a presentation!

Don’t miss out on upcoming WSPS events and activities like our Craft Show in November and our Spaghetti Dinner in conjunction with the Masonic Hall in Webster on January 6th, 2023!

Visit our website at www.websterwasps.com and follow us on FB!

Volunteer as a Driver for WSPS

REQUIREMENTS:

• A clean driver’s license. • Attend a 3-hour training seminar at Lifespan in Brighton, 1900 S. Clinton Ave., to get certified. Training classes are held 9:00 AM to noon on the first Wednesday of each month. • Have a desire to give back to the community and meet great area seniors and residents who need our help!

START DRIVING!

1. Weekly requests are made for drivers by the WSPS Administrator/

Dispatcher. Average driving time is 1-2.5 hours per appointment. 2. Our Administrator will contact you via phone or text to see if you are available to drive a resident to a medical appointment. 3. Driving generally occurs between 9:00 AM and 2:30 PM Monday through Friday. Lifespan provides supplemental auto insurance when you drive your own vehicle. 4. You may have to assist clients getting into your car as some may have folding walkers that need to go with them. Please have plenty of room in your trunk or backseat. 5. If you only want to drive particular days of the week, that’s not a problem. We’ll load that info into our database so we don’t contact you for appointments on days you don’t drive. 6. If you just want to drive to local

Webster appointments, no problem.

We’ll load that information into our database for future reference. 7. If you are asked to drive and have prior commitments, again, not a problem. We’ll call you next time for another appointment. 8. The schedule for you to drive is flexible. Call us today, 585-216-7829, or visit our website at www.websterwasps.com to join our team of amazing volunteers.

The service WSPS volunteers provide for

our Webster Citizens is invaluable. Many of these citizens getting rides from WSPS volunteers are senior citizens who would otherwise have challenges to getting goods and services. - Town Supervisor Tom Flaherty

The Village of Webster proudly supports the Webster Senior Program Supporters that provide such needed services as transportation to and from doctors, dentists, chemo and physical therapy, as well as other health related shopping and rides to banking and hair care appointments. Thank you for

the dedication of volunteer drivers who have logged thousands of miles to provide these services to the Webster Community.

- Village Mayor Darrell Byerts

The WSPS transportation service is a great resource for our Webster seniors.

We are fortunate to have such a willing and dedicated group of volunteers who are willing to take the time and effort to transport our older adults to appointments and destinations they otherwise wouldn’t be able to get to. Thank you, WSPS! - Webster Parks & Recreation Senior Coordinator Daphne Geoca