Senior Services, a nonprofit organization that serves senior citizens throughout King County, is looking for volunteer drivers to support its transportation program.

Hilary Case, the volunteer outreach coordinator at the Seattle-based agency, said Senior Services has only two volunteer drivers on Vashon. More volunteers are needed to meet the needs of elderly residents who have appointments off-island, she said.

“On Vashon, the community is so strong that when there’s an appointment on-island they can find someone to drive them. But it’s those pesky appointments in Seattle and Tacoma that are difficult,” Case said.

Vashon is one of the quieter parts of the agency’s service area, Case said. “But when we do have requests, it just seems that we sometimes aren’t able to serve them. … And once they’re told no, they stop calling.”

Volunteers use their own vehicles and are reimbursed for mileage and ferry fares, she said. Those who need a ride call Senior Services to try to secure one. Clients need to call by Wednesday for a ride the following week, she said.

Sometimes, elderly residents need a ride only to the appointment; a family member might be able to give them a ride home. Other times, they need transportation both ways, she said.

“Our goal is to have more people we can call when we have requests,” she said.

Senior Services was established in 1967 and today calls itself the most comprehensive agency serving older adults in Washington.

For more information, call Case at 748-7588 or email her at hilaryc@seniorservices.org. Information about Senior Services’ transportation program is also available at its blog, www.volunteertransportation.blogspot.com, and on its website, www.seniorservices.org/transportation.