One Person, One Ride, a Downpour of Impact

How many times have you thought, “I’m just one person—how can I make a difference?” Sometimes, we all feel as though a problem is just too big for any one person to solve. Rural transportation, especially for veterans, is one of those problems. It can seem like a vast, impossible challenge, but what if I told you that change is still within reach—one act at a time?

Before I explain, let me tell you about Jim. Jim was a Vietnam veteran from Cedar County, and he was my dad’s best friend. As a disabled vet, Jim could still get around town on his own, but he couldn’t manage longer trips— to places like Bolivar, Springfield, or the VA Clinic in Kansas City—without someone to drive him. That someone was my dad, also a Vietnam vet. Dad isn’t young anymore, but he’d do anything for a friend.

So, there they were—two old vets armed with paper maps, reading glasses, and a truck that sucked more gas than they either of them could comfortably afford. From the backroads of Cedar County to cities across the state, they traveled so Jim could access affordable medical care at the VA. Like many veterans, Jim could have received some care locally, but it would have cost him a lot more. And when forced to choose between essentials like food or healthcare, basic needs often come first. I’m grateful Jim had my dad to help him make those trips. Together, they shared a lot of good times, and those road trips were no exception.

When Jim started experiencing chest pain, he scheduled an appointment at the VA, but getting in with a specialist there takes time. As it turned out, Jim didn’t have that kind of time. He passed away alone in his home, waiting for the help he needed. In the end, his belongings were sold at an estate auction, with my dad buying Jim’s truck—holding onto a piece of his friend, those memories, for a while longer. I’ll never forget the keychain that came with it. It was for the Veteran’s Crisis Hotline.

That keychain is a reminder of how many veterans live with isolation, struggling quietly. Many of our veterans are alone, not just in terms of location but in carrying the weight of their experiences. I think about Jim and the veterans out there who don’t have someone like my dad. I wonder whose story we can change.

So, how can one person make a difference in a problem so big?

One act of kindness at a time. One volunteer can change a life, even if just for a day. We can help veterans, like Jim, find relief from loneliness and isolation. Because the rides that we provide through New Growth Transit is so much more than just a ride to a medical appointment, it’s a chance to talk with someone. And that matters.

Then, over time, one volunteer becomes two, and the impact grows. Every downpour begins with a single drop of rain.

Today, we invite you to become that first drop of rain. One trip, one friendly conversation, one connection at a time. Join us as a volunteer driver, and let’s change someone’s story together.

‍