Wimberley On Wheels needs more volunteers

Gary Zupancic Staff Reporter

For about four years, there have been volunteers in town that can help seniors with their driving needs. As people get older, driving skills can diminish and health problems can restrict driving.

A program for those senior citizens who need help with rides to the grocery store, medical appointments, going to the beauty shop, and other local trips like to the Senior Center for card games, the library, Blue Hole or EmilyAnn. Wimberley on Wheels can help. Feeling isolated can be a big problem for seniors. WoW can help.

The volunteers at WoW are drivers donating their time weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to help those in the community who need the help. Instead of being isolated in the community, the volunteers help those who no longer, or can’t drive.

“This is a complimentary service for anybody 55 years plus in the Wimberley Valley. There’s no charge, but we ask for a small donation from our clients. All volunteer drivers are vetted for their criminal and driving records. No one has failed which means we just have good people,” Carol Scheel of WoW said.

The service includes visits to San Marcos, Kyle and New Braunfels, but not Austin. The Wimberley Senior Center Activities, Inc. (WSCAI) supplies insurance for the drivers. The average round trip is about forty miles. “However long the appointment takes,” Scheel said. “If the appointment will be long, the driver can leave and come back when the patient is released.”

Volunteers are always needed and fill out a short application and after they are vetted, attend a 2-hour class. In order to schedule a ride, clients are asked to contact WoW three to five days in advance and then fill out their information including medical problems and doctors, emergency phone numbers, and any disabilities.

“We need to know about the client, for insurance purposes or if there are any other problems we need to know about. We’ll go to your home to get the information from our clients if needed,” Scheel said.

Helping others and being helped is a part of being a member of the Wimberley community. If you need a ride or would like to volunteer, please see the Wimberley on Wheels website at:

wimberleyonwheels.com or call (512) 847-1781