Orcas Door to Door to focus on community outreach and growth.
— from Dennis King for Lahari —
Orcas Door to Door, a Lahari ‘Aging on Orcas’ program, has recently hired a community specialist as the new program coordinator. Sara Pelfrey has recently moved here, from the Portland, OR area, after running a successful outreach program and community center that focused on disrupting social isolation. She brings her expertise to the program with the goal to expand Orcas Door to Door’s reach to the many homebound elders, and adult residents who have accessibility needs, who have not taken advantage of the program.
Lahari’s Orcas Door to Door is a volunteer driven program, that recognizes the need of our aging population, especially when it comes t transportation. “I see accessible transportation as one of the fundamental pillars of keeping people in their homes and on the island. When people are isolated, not only does their health suffer, but communities loose important members who help keep Orcas connected, creative, and healthy “explains Pelfrey. “In many communities we see that if elders, and those who have accessibility needs, can stay in their homes that communities are more resilient when it comes to issues such as gentrification and affordability.”
Orcas Door to Door’s next move is to focus on high need areas, not only for riders but for volunteer drivers. “I see this program as a long-term solution to generational living on Orcas. In the relatively short time this program has been running, it has provided over 1,000 rides. When people volunteer to take their neighbors to appointments, social events, or to the grocery store, they create relationships that mirror the community spirit of living on Orcas.”
Orcas Door to Door is a Lahari ‘Aging on Orcas’ program that focuses on transportation access. Program information can be found at OrcasDoortoDoor.org.
Welcome, Sara, to this important service on Orcas. My husband and I are drivers for Door-to-Door and find it is very satisfying and interesting, and a great way to volunteer for our community. We look forward to continuing with you at the helm. Dennis King was a wonderful coordinator and we thank him for the service he provided in getting the program up and running – no small feat.