Question 1

What do volunteers receive?

Accepted Answer

Volunteering as a driver with Island Connections is an easy, flexible way to give back—and you’ll feel the impact every step of the way. You’ll receive immeasurable gratitude from all of us at Island Connections, the neighbors you help, their families, and the wider MDI community.
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To show our appreciation, we offer gas reward cards for rides given—our way of saying “thank you” and recognizing the time and cost of each drive. We never want volunteering to feel expensive or burdensome. You’ll also be invited to volunteer appreciation events and have opportunities to connect with other volunteers in your community. Most of all, you’ll experience the satisfaction of making a real difference—helping older and disabled adults stay independent, healthy, and connected, while building meaningful friendships along the way.

Question 2

What type of car do I need to have?

Accepted Answer

You can volunteer with any type of vehicle! We do have some Neighbors who struggle to get into very low, or very high cars, but our Transportation Coordinator will work with you to make sure that each ride goes smoothly for all parties. Our scheduling software shows if someone requires a vehicle with extra leg room or room for a large walker. We also have volunteering opportunities that don’t include driving a neighbor, like grocery shopping, or delivering Meals on Wheels.

Question 3

I'm only on MDI for part of the year, can I still volunteer?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We have several volunteers that are only here during the summer season. Alternatively, we have many volunteers who are busy with their seasonal business during the summer, but have more time off during the winter months to volunteer. Every volunteer is a piece of the puzzle!

Question 4

Do I have to wait at the medical center during the Neighbor’s appointment?

Accepted Answer

No, you are free to roam while the Neighbor is in their appointment. Many of our volunteers will pick up rides to Ellsworth or Bangor so they can fit their volunteering in with errands they have to do anyways. We do our best to estimate with the Neighbor how long each appointment will be, so you’ll know how long you have to wait until the return trip. If the appointment is longer than a few hours, we will usually break the ride up into two one-rides, so that the volunteer doesn’t need to wait.

Question 5

How often do I have to volunteer?

Accepted Answer

You can volunteer as little or as much as you like! We have volunteers who enjoy picking up a few rides each week, and we have volunteers who can only do a few every year. Every volunteer plays a role in making sure all of our Neighbors get where they need to go.

Question 6

Are rides needed 7 days a week?

Accepted Answer

We primarily provide rides Monday through Friday, when staff are available to assist if issues arise. However, we recognize that some essential medical needs cannot be limited to those hours, and we make exceptions for rides such as dialysis patients who require treatment several times each week.

Question 7

Can I bring my dog along?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We have had Neighbors tell us that spending time with a volunteer’s dog was as healing as the medical appointment they were brought to. We like to make sure that all parties consent, so please let us know if you are bringing your dog so that we can make sure it’s okay with the Neighbor, first.

Question 8

Can I bring a friend or family member along?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We often have volunteers sign up in pairs, such as couples or parent-child duos, especially to deliver meal routes together. This is an especially great way to introduce your child to volunteering and help them learn the value of community service. We ask that if you are bringing an extra passenger while driving a Neighbor, please let us know beforehand so that we can let the Neighbor know.

Question 9

What if I don’t know what to talk about?

Accepted Answer

Don’t worry, our Transportation Coordinator can match you with our chattiest Neighbor, and you won’t have time to get a word in edgewise! If you’re worried about interacting with Neighbors in the car, you can also deliver meals on a meal route, or grocery shop for Neighbors who can’t make it to the store themselves.

Question 10

Are there ways to volunteer without driving neighbors?

Accepted Answer

Yes! There are a few ways to volunteer this way.

In 2020 we launched our own grocery shopping program for Neighbors who can’t make it to the store on their own. Volunteers go to the Neighbor’s home and pick up their list, payment, and reusable bags, and then shop for the Neighbor and bring it all back to them. We recommend that you spend a few minutes with the Neighbor to go over everything on their list to make sure you know what they’re asking you to shop for.

We also have food delivery routes for both Meals on Wheels and Open Table MDI. These require the volunteers to pick up meals from the respective organization, and distribute them to Neighbors across the island.

Question 11

Can I drive the same person every time?

Accepted Answer

Yes! If you hit it off with a Neighbor, let our Transportation Coordinator know, and she’ll make sure to reach out to you when that Neighbor puts in new ride requests. Additionally, many of our Neighbors have recurring rides that are at the same time and place each week. This includes rides like grocery shopping, lab work, or to and from dialysis. For these rides, we are always looking for a “dedicated driver,” which just means you tell us when you can’t do it.

Question 12

What are the durations of appointments?

Accepted Answer

Appointments can be anywhere from 15 minutes to a few hours long. Generally, if an appointment is over 2 hours long, we will split it into two one-way rides so that you don’t need to wait. That said, we’ve had volunteers who were delighted to spend a full afternoon exploring the craft store in Bangor, so if you’d prefer a few hours to shop, picking up both one-way rides is an option, too!

Question 13

Can I volunteer on a regular schedule?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we have many food delivery routes and Neighbors with recurring rides that are at the same time and place each week. If flexibility is not for you, we are always looking for what we call “dedicated drivers” for these rides. Becoming a dedicated driver for a ride doesn’t mean you can’t travel or take time off from volunteering, it just means you tell us when you can’t do it instead of the other way around.

Question 14

What age do I have to be to volunteer?

Accepted Answer

Volunteers need to be at least 18 years of age to volunteer for grocery or meal route deliveries, or other types of rides that don’t involve a rider. In order to drive a Neighbor, volunteers must be at least 21 years of age.

Question 15

Are there any out of pocket expenses to volunteers?

Accepted Answer

Volunteers use their own gas and vehicles to provide rides to our Neighbors. We do offer a gas card reward system where volunteers earn points for different types of rides, and then receive a gas card when they’ve earned enough points. We recently lowered the number of required points for a gas card from 30 to 25 in order to help offset the high cost of fuel.

Question 16

Will I be exposed to illness?

Accepted Answer

We ask that our Neighbors do not ride in the vehicle with a volunteer if they are sick. Volunteers are often driving Neighbors who are immunocompromised so we do not want to risk anybody getting sick from a ride. Our medical transportation supports regularly scheduled appointments and ongoing care needs, rather than same-day or illness-related urgent care.

Question 17

Are background checks required?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we require all volunteers to complete a background check before volunteering.

Question 18

What if I work full time during the week?

Accepted Answer

While most medical appointments are Monday through Friday during the week, we do have opportunities to volunteer outside of these hours. We often have Neighbors who need to go to dialysis on Saturdays, and additionally rides to the grocery store are always flexible.

We also encourage you to ask your employer about volunteering during work hours if your workday allows flexibility. Some employers, including several banks in the area, offer paid volunteer time that allow employees to step out briefly to bring someone to an appointment, return to work during the appointment, and then return later to bring them home.

Our Transportation Coordinator is happy to work with you individually to find rides that fit your schedule so you don’t have to sift through all of the rides in our online scheduling system.

Question 19

What is required to drive the wheelchair accessible van?

Accepted Answer

Providing these rides can be especially rewarding, and we have a small, dedicated group of volunteers who take them on. Drivers of our wheelchair accessible van should have a flexible schedule and a strong driving record, as they must be approved to be on our insurance policy. We'll provide all the training you need, including how to operate the van and safely secure passengers. You may occasionally need to assist someone into the van, but no heavy lifting or significant strength is needed.

Question 20

How far will I be driving?

Accepted Answer

Volunteers can choose between a variety of rides, from short in-town trips to longer trips as far as Bangor. You'll never be asked to pick up a ride that you are uncomfortable with, so it's up to you!

Question 21

Am I covered by insurance while volunteering?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Volunteers are covered by supplemental insurance while providing rides. This coverage applies in excess of your own personal auto insurance, meaning your policy would be primary and the supplemental policy provides additional protection beyond that if needed. If you have questions about coverage, we're happy to talk it through with you.

Question 22

What is the onboarding process like?

Accepted Answer

Once you apply to volunteer, we'll reach out to schedule an orientation. This typically lasts 30-60 minutes, depending on how many questions you have (and how chatty we get!). During that time, we'll walk you through everything you need to know to get started, including how to pick up rides on our online software, and answer any questions you may have.

We also conduct a background check for all volunteers as part of the onboarding process.

Island Connections

Volunteering

Volunteer of the Year: 2025

Heart Forward Award: 2025