The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Washoe County awarded Sanford Center for Aging’s Community Services $483,269 for a two-year period through Sept. 30, 2027. The organization will expand existing transportation services to provide 7,800 free, individualized, door-through-door trips for adults 60 and older in the Reno/Sparks area. The service extends to areas such as Lemmon Valley and Golden Valley, the outskirts of Spanish Springs and southern Washoe County.

“Over the past year, we had meaningful growth in both reach and impact,” said Maddie Luevano, administrative assistant for Community Services at Sanford Center for Aging and primary point of contact for clients and volunteers. “The number of clients served increased by 34 percent between 2024 to 2025, total rides increased by 776, and total miles driven increased by more than 12,000 miles. These increases highlight not only growing demand but also the program’s ability to meet that demand through strong coordination, volunteer commitment and trusted relationships with the community.”

Often the first and most consistent point of contact for both clients and volunteers, Luevano speaks with clients almost daily to help schedule rides, communicate which volunteer will be assisting them and make sure any special needs or preferences are clearly noted. On the volunteer side, she ensures volunteers feel supported, appreciated and confident in their role.

This new funding ensures the smooth operation of the transportation program by covering essential expenses such as volunteer mileage reimbursement, background checks for new volunteers, fuel for program vehicles, a part-time staff driver and partial support for program personnel who coordinate daily transportation services and volunteer engagement.

Most of the rides through the Volunteer Transportation Program (VTP) are provided by supportive volunteers who use their own vehicles to drive clients to medical appointments, necessary errands and socialization opportunities. In the last year, that amounted to a total of 2,670 volunteer hours, which is valued at $92,880 (based on the Independent Sector rate). 

“The system Sanford has set up for folks to request rides, and for volunteers like me to choose when to volunteer, is seamless,” said James Pagliarini, transportation volunteer for Sanford Center for Aging. “The personal and caring support extended by the staff to both clients and volunteers is truly extraordinary. And I can tell you from personal experience that the service is invaluable to those in need.”

In Nevada, the 2022 Social Threats to Aging Well in America by Alignment Healthcare reported that nearly 1 in 5 (19 percent) older adults will not have reliable transportation to access non-emergency care in the next year, compared to 1 in 7 (14 percent) nationally.

“Our transportation program is essential for older adults in the Reno and Sparks community,” said Luevano. “Losing the ability to drive can feel like losing a part of one’s independence.”