NORWICH – Due to a lack of volunteer drivers for the Chenango County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), many senior citizens are missing decisive and potentially life-saving medical appointments with doctors.

One of the most pervasive problems troubling denizens of rural communities is getting from point A to point B. Unlike large cities, the pastoral regions of the nation, such as Chenango County, have less developed public transit systems. While this can translate into little more than a burden for youth able to drive themselves, it can develop into a life threatening issue for senior citizens in need of daily doses of chemotherapy or dialysis and have no convenient mode of transportation.

In comes RSVP, a volunteer-based subdivision of Opportunities for Chenango, which provides county residents 60-years and older with a means of transportation to critical medical appointments, and is now in desperate need of drivers to help out.

“We are hurting for drivers,” said RSVP Director Jon Moseley. “We only have one person to drive long distances,” he continued, referring to that particular volunteer as a “saint” due to the massive amount of hours logged in over the months, regardless of the weather conditions or the time of day he’s needed. In the month of January alone, this volunteer has traveled 1,700 miles, said Moseley.