Celebrating Free Senior Rides (and so much more) in NOVA

Photo Caption: Letha, an SCNOVA program participant, shares her story at the Annual Fundraiser.

At our annual fundraiser, a room full of friends, sponsors, and volunteers grew quiet as Letha Flippin stood up to share her story. She didn’t talk about miles driven or appointments kept. She talked about friendship that makes her feel like family.

“We have conversations; we talk about our families. We talk about our hobbies. It’s just like being with a friend,” Letha said of her rides with Shepherd’s Center of Northern Virginia (SCNOVA) volunteer drivers. Then she shared her journey with Ann, an SCNOVA volunteer driver.

It Started With a Single Medical Ride

Letha’s very first Shepherd’s Center ride was to a medical appointment in 2024. One of the volunteers who drove her, Ann, discovered that they shared a love of exercise. Ann suggested they exercise together, and because Letha is legally blind, she offered to pick Letha up a couple of times a week so they could work out together at the Vienna Community Center.

Letha has connected with all of her Shepherd’s Center drivers. As she says, “We have conversations; we talk about our families. We talk about our hobbies. It’s just like being with family.”

In her words, the friendship has been “just a treasure.”

More Than a Ride: The Care Behind Every Trip

For many older adults, a ride to the doctor involves more than getting from point A to point B. Letha described how SCNOVA drivers do for her what family members usually do. When she visits a large medical building with confusing hallways and turns, her driver walks her inside and guides her to the right place (she is legally blind).

That kind of care matters. In 2025, SCNOVA volunteers provided more than 2,700 rides across Northern Virginia, and 77% of them were for healthcare needs. Every one of those rides was free, with no income requirements and no referral needed.

Another participant, Dianne Rankin, shared why that personal touch matters to her. Before finding SCNOVA, she relied on rideshare services for medical trips, logging over 900 medical miles in a single year. Once, she waited an hour and a half for a ride home. With SCNOVA, there’s a real person on the other end who knows her and cares that she gets home safely.

Photo caption: Dianne Rankin shares her experience as a participant with SCNOVA at the Annual Fundraiser

Faith in Action

Letha closed by reflecting on a verse from the Book of James: faith without action is dead. She noted that the Shepherd’s Center puts that principle first. Believing in helping others isn’t enough. Showing up is what counts.

Her words echo what we hear from participants every year. In 2025, 97% of SCNOVA participants reported feeling more positive, more secure, and more connected to their community.

Why Our Volunteer Drivers Matter

SCNOVA’s vision is to create a world without loneliness. Letha’s story shows how that happens: one conversation, one ride, one friendship at a time.

Nationally, one in five adults 65 and older don’t drive. Without reliable transportation, getting to the doctor, the grocery store, or the gym becomes a real barrier to health and independence. Volunteer drivers close that gap, and many find that the relationships they build are the most rewarding part.

Become a Volunteer Driver

You don’t need special training or a big time commitment. SCNOVA drivers set their own schedules through our online Rides portal, and new drivers are paired with an experienced buddy to get started.

If you like to drive and enjoy meeting new people, you probably already have what it takes to make a real difference in your community.

Become a Volunteer Driver
Support Our Mission

Questions? Call us at (703) 281-0538.