Coon Rapids Seeks Volunteer Drivers to Help Seniors Stay Connected to Community Life

COON RAPIDS, MN

In communities across Minnesota, the ability to get from one place to another can quietly determine whether someone remains connected to the rhythms of community life or slips into isolation.

In Coon Rapids, a simple act such as driving a city minivan for a few hours a week is helping ensure that does not happen.

The City of Coon Rapids Senior Center is currently seeking volunteer drivers to support its senior transportation program, an initiative designed to help older residents continue participating in activities, services, and social gatherings at the city’s senior center.

City officials say the greatest need at the moment is for volunteers available on Thursdays.

The program allows older residents who no longer drive or who face mobility challenges to travel safely to and from the Senior Center, located at the Coon Rapids Civic Center, 11155 Robinson Drive. The transportation service is reserved for Coon Rapids residents age 55 and older, helping them remain active participants in community life.

“Transportation can be one of the biggest barriers for older adults,” city staff say. “Volunteer drivers help make sure seniors can still stay engaged with friends, activities, and resources that support healthy aging.”

A Volunteer Role That Keeps Community Connections Alive

Volunteer drivers play a straightforward but deeply meaningful role.

Drivers operate a city-owned minivan, meaning volunteers do not need to use their own vehicles. Their primary responsibility is transporting seniors to and from scheduled programs and activities hosted at the Senior Center.

Those interested in serving must meet several basic requirements:

• A valid driver’s license and clean driving record
• Completion of a mandatory background check
• Availability to assist with scheduled rides, particularly Thursday shifts

Residents interested in volunteering can contact Julie Bieniek, Senior Center and Events Specialist, at (763) 767-6524 for additional information.

The Heart of Coon Rapids Senior Services

The Coon Rapids Senior Center serves as a gathering place and community hub for older adults throughout the city. Located within the Civic Center complex, the facility hosts a wide range of programs designed to promote wellness, social connection, lifelong learning, and independence for older residents.

Many activities are open to seniors throughout the region, but the transportation service itself is a benefit reserved specifically for Coon Rapids residents.

The program ensures seniors can attend:

Social and Recreational Activities

• Bridge
• “500”
• Bingo
• Cribbage
• Card groups and games

Health and Wellness Programs

• Exercise and fitness classes
• Yoga sessions
• Walking groups
• Health clinics, including blood pressure checks and foot care services

Educational and Creative Programs

• Creative writing groups
• Book clubs
• Wood carving and hobby workshops
• Special presentations and guest speakers

Community Services

• Tax preparation assistance
• Informational sessions on aging resources
• Social events and seasonal gatherings

For many seniors, these programs represent far more than recreational options. They are opportunities for friendship, continued learning, and maintaining independence.

Removing a Barrier to Participation

Transportation is often one of the most significant obstacles older adults face as they age. Without reliable access to rides, participation in community programs can quickly become difficult or impossible.

Coon Rapids’ transportation service helps remove that barrier.

Seniors typically pay a nominal suggested donation of about $1 each way for rides to and from the center, and trips usually need to be scheduled at least 48 business hours in advance.

While the fee helps offset operating costs, the program itself depends heavily on volunteers who donate their time behind the wheel.

A City Program Built on Volunteerism

Volunteerism has long been part of the civic culture of Coon Rapids, and the Senior Center is no exception.

According to city figures, more than 300 volunteers contribute over 30,000 hours of service each year across various programs that support older residents. Volunteers assist with events, activities, classes, and transportation services that keep the center operating smoothly.

Driving may appear to be a simple act of service. But in practice, it often becomes something more.

For seniors who live alone, the ride to the center may be the moment that reconnects them to the broader community. A brief conversation on the way to a class or card game can transform an ordinary day into one filled with companionship and purpose.

City leaders say the transportation program reflects the broader mission of the city’s “Voice of Experience” initiative, which emphasizes the importance of recognizing older adults not only as residents who need services, but as community members whose lives and experiences remain essential to the social fabric of the city.

Why This Matters for Residents

For many older adults, access to reliable transportation determines whether they remain socially active or become isolated.

Programs like the one in Coon Rapids help seniors maintain independence, support their mental and physical health, and stay connected to neighbors and friends.

And sometimes, the difference between isolation and belonging is simply someone willing to take the wheel.

Interested in volunteering?
Residents who would like to serve as volunteer drivers can contact the Coon Rapids Senior Center:

Julie Bieniek
Senior Center and Events Specialist
Phone: 763-767-6524

MinneapoliMedia
Community. Culture. Civic Life.