Côte-d’Or: volunteer drivers from Secours Catholique take you to the doctor

Who wants to be of service to their neighbors or residents of surrounding communities?
In the Gold Coast, Secours Catholique is looking for drivers with cars who could accompany isolated people to the doctor, go shopping or visit a loved one.

This new service is currently in place on the community of communes of Pouilly-en-Auxois and Bligny-sur-Ouche. A dozen volunteer drivers provide trips at the wheel of their cars. The trip costs 1.50 euros, whatever the destination. Come on, let’s get on board with Annie: She lives in Maconge, she’s 88 years old, and she needs to go see her ophthalmologist in Dijon. So she picked up her phone to contact Secours Catholique.

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“These meetings are life lessons” – Maryline, volunteer driver

Secours Catholique covers the insurance of the car, and the Community reimburses the costs up to 32 cents per kilometer traveled. This service has been in place since December 2023, and the association would like to extend it to other territories. Waiting for, she is looking for new drivers. “I realize it’s very useful.” confides Maryline who sometimes provides up to 3 journeys per week. “There are no obligations. It’s me who specifies when I’m available. I have wonderful, very positive encounters. For example, I help an isolated gentleman to go see his wife in a nursing home. I let them the time of their meeting, two hours, three hours, then I take him home. The longer it goes, the more I like doing this, they are often life lessons.

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To become a volunteer, simply contact the Secours Catholique de Côte-d’Or. Their premises are located at 9 bis boulevard Voltaire in Dijon, and the association provides training days for people who wish to get started.