The sixth annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner to honor the Provide-A-Ride Volunteers for the 20007 year was held Saturday April 19, at the Wellington Steak House. The theme this year was ‘Volunteers — The Heart of Community.’ Special guest were County Commissioners Jim Newell and his wife, Donna, and Eldon Gracy. Both Newell and Gracy gave a message of thanks to all the volunteers. The Provide-A-Ride program has been existence for more than eight years, and the program is used in Argonia, Bell Plaine, Caldwell, Conway Springs and Oxford. Wellington residents can use Futures for their transportation. At this time Mayfield, Mulvane, and South Haven do not use the program. For the year of 2007 volunteers drove 22,352 miles. The Provide-A-Ride program has 25 different volunteers, 405 rides were dispatched to 76 different individuals. Provide-A-Ride volunteers donate their time which is not only driving but may be sitting for hours in a doctor’s office and waiting on prescriptions, etc. The dispatchers are also very important to the program as they spend time organizing rides for their clients and sending the peperwork to our office. The time these volunteers give to help someone in need is appreciated very much. This year, the women volunteers received a heart shaped silver key ring with the theme imprinted on it and the men received a 6-in-1 tool set. The statistics for each town is as follows: n Argonia provides rides for 13 different individuals, and the number of rides dispatched was 92. They have four volunteers: Verna Lee Coleman-Dispatcher, Mondella Craig, Donna Tyan, and Beverly Sinclair. n Belle Plaine provided rides for nine different individuals, and the number of rides dispatched was 41. They have two colunteers: Esther Heater-Dispatcher and Driver, and Myrna Heath. n Caldwell provided rides to 22 different individuals, and the number of rides dispatched was 71. They have nine volunteers: Thelma Struble-Dispatcher, Virginia Gerberding, Don White, Betty Grimm, Melvin Johnson, Phyllis Gerberding, Wanda Kerr, Willis Kerr, and Larry Rader. n Conway Springs provided rides to 18 different individuals and the number of rides dispatched was 125. They have five volunteers: Margaret Burkhart-Dispatcher and Driver, Gary Burkhart, Don Riggs, Charles Riggs, and Doris Riggs. n Oxford provided rides to 14 different individuals and the number of rides dispatched was 76. They have five volunteers: Mary Ann Parsons-Dispatcher and Driver, Stan Shore, Diana Wheeler, Margarret Schmitz, and Mary Sanko. Board members and alternates of the Sumner County Senior Board were also honored. President Sharon Phipps of Mulvane, is also Sumner County’s representative to the SCKAAA board. Vice President Jess Addis of Conway Springs, is also Sumner County’s representative to the Silver Haired Legislator and the Aging Project Inc., board. Secretary is Mondella Craig of Argonia and tresurer is Carolyn Riekenberg of Wellington. Other board members are: Fern Nievens of Bell Plaine; Madge Volavka of Caldwell; Donna Yearout of Mayfield; Wesley Holman of Oxford; Hazle Ratzlaff of South Haven The alternates were: Elizabeth Hemberger of Argonia; Esther Heater of Bell Plaine; Betty Grimm of Caldwell; Lorna Tovre of Conway Springs; Neola Heasty of Mayfield; Judy Wayman of Mulvane; Bernice Neises of Oxford,; Wayne Kufus of South Haven; and Carol Norris-Wellington. Sumner County Senior Services Director Janet Donley also thanked the County Commissioners for all their support to provide transportation to the senior citizens in Sumner County that are unable to drive and live in the small towns. “We appreciate their support not only in this program but all the support they give to us,” she said. Volunteers are always neede to provide trasportation to those in need and if you would like to become a volunteer in your town call Janet Donley at 620-326-2500.