Marriottsville/ Sykesville /Woodstock

Colleen Konstanzer, Community Outreach Coordinator for Neighbor Ride, would like to remind the community that “Back-to-School Time is a Great Time to Make a Difference.” As schedules once more return to normal, consider offering your services as a driver to help the county’s seniors, age 60 and over, maintain their independence.

Neighbor Ride offers safe, reliable, and friendly transportation to destinations like health care appointments, shopping trips, volunteer activities, religious services, and social gatherings. The good news is that area seniors increasingly rely on Neighbor Ride for their transportation needs, thus necessitating additional drivers.

Volunteers may choose schedules convenient to their daily routines, and many of these opportunities fall during school hours. Neighbor Ride also encourages parents to bring their younger children along for a rewarding intergenerational experience.

For more information, call Volunteer Coordinator Rosemary Noble at 410-884-7433, or e-mail volunteer@neighborride.org.

Colleen Konstanzer, Community Outreach Coordinator for Neighbor Ride, shares that this charitable organization recently registered several new passengers in the western part of Howard County and seeks to increase the number of volunteers in our area. Volunteer drivers help transport seniors to medical appointments, shopping and business destinations, religious services, social outings, volunteer commitments, and more. Currently, they provide an average of 500 rides per month.

As we celebrate our Nation’s independence, consider giving the gift of independence to an elderly neighbor by volunteering for Neighbor Ride. Drivers may choose rides that are convenient to them and may bring their children for a rewarding intergenerational experience. Contact Volunteer Coordinator Rosemary Noble at 410-884-RIDE (7433) or e-mail volunteer@neighborride.org for more information.

Neighbor Ride invites you to “Make Summer Count” by bringing the kids along as you help transport a local senior. The nonprofit Neighbor Ride organization aims to decrease isolation and improve the quality of life for Howard County residents, age 60 and older, by providing low-cost rides to appointments, classes, social activities, religious services, and other area destinations.

If you would like to participate in this flexible and gratifying volunteer experience, call Rosemary Noble at 410-884-RIDE or volunteer@neighborride.org.

Colleen Konstanzer, Community Outreach Coordinator for Neighbor Ride, would like to remind the community that Valentine’s Day is the ideal occasion to “do something sweet” for an older resident. Neighbor Ride, a volunteer-based transportation service, continually seeks new drivers to help Howard County seniors remain active and independent. Since volunteers may choose to provide rides that are convenient to their own locations and schedules, they provide big benefits to others at little financial cost to themselves.

To learn more about this rewarding opportunity, call Volunteer Coordinator Rosemary Noble at 410-884-RIDE (7433) or e-mail volunteer@neighborride.org.

‘Top 10’ lists abound at the turn of each year, and not surprisingly, even New Year’s Resolutions receive a ranking. Many of the Top 10 resolutions remain consistent each year and center around self-improvement, such as losing weight or quitting smoking. However, altruism also makes the cut. If your goal is to create a better 2009 by giving back to the community, then Neighbor Ride offers the perfect solution. Voted the best in Howard County – Charity/Nonprofit, Neighbor Ride is a volunteer-based transportation service that aims to keep the county’s older residents active, independent, and socially involved.

Neighbor Ride needs volunteer drivers to transport seniors to medical appointments, shopping trips, employment and volunteer commitments, religious services, social outings, and other activities. Opportunities are flexible, and drivers may choose to provide rides that are convenient to their homes and schedules. Neighbor Ride also encourages parent volunteers to bring their children for a rewarding intergenerational experience.

For more information, call Volunteer Coordinator Rosemary Noble at 410-884-RIDE (7433) or e-mail volunteer@neighborride.org

Colleen Konstanzer, Community Outreach Coordinator for Neighbor Ride, would like to remind area residents that the organization needs volunteer drivers, especially in the western part of the county, to help transport seniors during the holiday season and beyond. Drivers may choose ride opportunities that are convenient to their schedules and daily routines, and parent volunteers are welcome to bring their children.

Upcoming volunteer orientation dates include Friday, Nov. 21 and Dec. 2 at 10 a.m., and Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. To volunteer or obtain more information, contact Volunteer Coordinator Rosemary Noble at 410-884-RIDE (7433) or volunteer@neighborride.org.

Colleen Konstanzer, Community Outreach Coordinator for Neighbor Ride, Inc., would like to announce a new Howard County initiative called the Senior Volunteer Fund. In partnership with the Volunteer Center Serving Howard County and as a result of a contribution from the Ascend One EDGE Fund, Neighbor Ride now offers half-price trips to adults 60 and older who require transportation for volunteer activities.

Often seniors provide the perfect blend of talent, experience and availability required to fill the ever-growing volunteer needs of our area, yet they lack transportation. The Senior Volunteer Fund aims to eliminate this hurdle. The program will extend through the end of the year, with hopes of attaining enough community support to continue indefinitely.

For the last four years, Neighbor Ride has provided low-cost transportation to seniors by using dedicated volunteers who drive their personal vehicles. The program needs drivers, especially in western Howard County.

If you can help, call volunteer coordinator Rosemary Noble at volunteer@neighborride.org or 410-884-3616. To register as a passenger, call 410-884-RIDE (7433). For more information on the Senior Volunteer Fund, e-mail Konstanzer at community@neighborride.org or call 410-884-3616 or Mickey Gomez, executive director of the Volunteer Center Serving Howard County, at info@volunteerhoward.org or call 410-715-3172.