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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, December 12, 2014 | 4 Red Cross volunteer drivers are a friend in deed by Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver Staff As Lionel Latter sat in the doctor's waiting room, he watched people coming in with walkers or in wheelchairs, many of them alone. He wondered how they managed to get to appointments. His wife, Evelyn, had suffered a heart attack, was in a wheelchair and for 10 years required oxygen. He knew, for her, getting to appointments on her own would have been next to impossible. He also recognized that not everyone was fortunate enough to have someone to drive them to appointments. After his wife died, he never forgot about those people he saw at the doctor's office. He wondered if there was a program in place to provide rides. "The Red Cross was the first place I went and as soon as I walked in, there was a sign right on the door, `Drivers Wanted,'" he said. "I've been lucky enough to have good health, so this was something I could do to help." Latter is among the 21 volunteer drivers for the Oakville branch of the Canadian Red Cross who provide 12,727 rides annually for 279 The Canadian Red cross, Oakville branch, needs volunteer drivers like Lionel Latter to provide rides to medical appointments and day programs for seniors and disabled people in Oakville who can't use public transit or don't have someone to drive them. The Oakville branch provided more than 12,000 rides last year. | photo by Riziero Vertolli ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) elderly and disabled people in Oakville who can't use public transit or don't have someone to drive them. The Red Cross provides rides to medical appointments, which account for approximately 3,500 rides each year, as well as to social day programs. Due to the lack of volunteer drivers, the Red Cross began hiring paid drivers seven years ago, but the more rides that can be handled by volunteers, the more money the organization has for its other programs. Even with paid drivers, last year the Red Cross couldn't provide 337 needed rides. "The whole Red Cross was founded on volunteers," said Judith Handojo, transportation administrator for the Canadian Red Cross' Oakville branch. "If we didn't have volunteers, we wouldn't be doing any medical rides." Latter drives every Tuesday, taking on a full schedule for the day. On a recent Tuesday, his day began at 8:45 a.m., picking up a client for an appointment in Etobicoke -- the Red Cross is the only organization that provides out-of-town rides. see Red on p.12 Do you have the CorreCt insuranCe Coverage? CNJ INsuraNCe & rIsk MaNageD solutIoNs Inc. has The soluTions! Jon-Paul Deerin · Home Owners Insurance · Small Business Insurance · Commercial Insurance · Automobile & Collector Cars Insurance · Wine & Art Collection Insurance Since 1967 upholstery & design BA, CRM, R.I.B (Ont.) Over 25 years Experience You deserve to be comfortable · Chairs · Headboards · Bench & Throw Cushions ·Sofas · Drapery and hardware We are pleased to serve the Oakville area 201-2150 Winston Park Dr., Oakville 905-829-0097 · jpdeerin@cnjins.com 2345 Wyecroft Road, Unit 11, Oakville www.baiers.ca · 905-616-3156 Designer on staff As distinctive as you are You are unique. Your family is unique. Ask our trusted specialists about personalized options for lasting remembrance, and preserve the memory of one special life forever. FREE Dozen Roses with Purchase Present this ad in-store and receive one dozen long stem 40 cm coloured roses FREE with minimum $50 purchase. (before HST/delivery) Offer expires Dec. 31, 2014. Not combinable with other promotional offers. Call today to take the first step: 905-257-1100 Look for us on Facebook glenoaks.ca Glen Oaks Funeral Home & Cemetery by Arbor Memorial 100% satisfaction guarantee · Open 7 days a week · Same day local delivery 3164 Ninth Line (403 & Dundas St.), Miss./Oakville, ON Arbor Memorial Inc. Oakville Store: 2387 Trafalgar Rd at Postridge · 905-257-0777 Family Owned. Proudly Canadian. 11 Ontario Stores: Burlington Oakville Mississauga London (8) www.forestofflowers.com ®