A long time ago in a place far far away I was once a volunteer with Little Brothers, Friends of the Elderly. The nonprofit was founded in France, then came to the US and has chapters in Chicago, Minneapolis and Boston as well as a rural chapter in the Keweenaw of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They opened that chapter in the early 80s and I was a volunteer and board member until I moved back to lower Michigan in 1985.

Their mission is to provide friendship and support to isolated elderly. There are plenty of isolated elderly in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

This month I read a newsletter which focused on the need for medical transportation volunteers by telling the story of Bill who was once a volunteer and has now transitioned to being one of the organizations Forever Friends.

Think about it. What if you lived somewhere a long way from your doctor and medical facilities, and you didn’t drive? What if you couldn’t afford a cab or an Uber? What if you were already isolated and lonely? Think how wonderful it would be to have someone come pick you up and drive you to your appointment, someone you could talk to on the ride, someone who would wait for you while you were in with the doctor and who would then cheerfully drive you home again.

What a gift.

Little Brothers provides 800 no-cost, uniquely door-through-door roundtrips rides every year. But they project the demand will increase by 43% in just two years! They are located in Hancock Michigan, up in the Keewenaw, and in Marquette, but they serve many other neighboring communities. If you live anywhere near them and have a little free time, consider driving someone to their doctor appointment.

Contact Little Brothers to find out more about the Medical Transportation Program, and all the other opportunities to bring joy into someone’s life. I guarantee you’ll feel joyful too.

And if you don’t happen to be lucky enough to live in Michigan’s UP, take a moment and look around your community. Chances are there’s an elderly person nearby that would love to become your Forever Friend. Or maybe would just appreciate a lift to the grocery store or the dentist.

Reach out, you won’t regret it.