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Call a Ride Southlake, a nonprofit that provides car rides for those in need in Southlake, celebrated its 25th anniversary in August.
CARS executive director Erik Phelps said there have been more than 250,000 rides and 36,000 riders over the past 25 years.
Phelps said the nonprofit organization was formed in 1999 when a group of Southlake retirees noticed members of their group had stopped showing up to their regular get-togethers, according to previous reporting.
The details
The nonprofit provides rides to Southlake residents for up to 7 miles one-way for non-medical trips and up to 25 miles, one way, for non-emergency medical rides, Phelps said.
A majority of the trips stay in town, or go to Colleyville, Grapevine or Keller, according to Phelps.
“More than anything, the need has never gone away,” Phelps said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a doctor, or a lawyer, or a stay-at-home mom; if you live long enough, you will have some sort of decline and you will get your car keys taken away. Whatever the case may be, the reality is there is a need and there aren’t a lot of alternatives, particularly if you don’t live with any family or friends.”
What you need to know
Phelps said most of the volunteers who provide rides are often helping out on the way to something else or going to the same spot as a rider.
He said the need for more rides is still there even after 25 years. He said 25% of the ride requests in August were turned down.
“We desperately need more volunteers,” he said. “Ten or 20 more volunteers and we would be in great shape. It would not only alleviate the unmet rides, but it also means everybody would share the load and the load would be a little bit lighter.”
To volunteer, a driver must be 18 years old, go through an annual background check for the safety of the riders, have a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance, Phelps said.
Quote of note
“This is a unique experience,” Phelps said. “It’s not going to Habitat for Humanity or another nonprofit where 40 people all stuff bags and do something together. This is much more a personal experience; more one-on-one time, when you’re driving. Over the weeks and months, you get to know and develop a relationship with them. It is not uncommon to go out for birthdays or spend time during holidays.”
The background
The nonprofit is funded primarily by the city of Southlake and other entities, including Tarrant County, the Southlake Women’s Club and individual donors, according to previous reporting.
CARS requests riders schedule rides a week in advance by emailing [email protected], or calling or texting 817-798-4022. Phelps said volunteers can also reach out to him via email to express interest in helping.
