The American Red Cross Butler County office for many years has offered a medical transportation program to people of all ages in Middletown, Monroe and Trenton. Volunteer drivers take people who don’t have access to transportation to and from their medical appointments at no cost, although contributions are welcome.

In 2012, the office provided more than 1,400 individual trips to medical appointments, and the drivers logged more than 2,300 volunteer hours.

“We want our residents to be able to remain living in their own homes for as long as possible,” said Christine Birhanzl, director of the Butler County office. “One aspect of living independently is the ability to drive. When we’re unable to drive and do not have reliable alternative transportation options available, it can have a traumatic impact on a person.”

William Allen, 62, of Middletown, one of the volunteer drivers, has given his time to help others in the community for about one year now. Allen is retired and typically drives people from about 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursdays.

Allen’s wife worked for the Red Cross in Hamilton and Colorado around the late 1960s to early 1970s, and would tell him what the organization did for both servicemen and the public. Allen was in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1972, and remembers that members of the Red Cross would bring he and his fellow servicemen doughnuts while they worked to boost morale.

“One day, I was sitting here, and they had an ad in the paper that they needed drivers,” he said. “I thought, you know, as much good as they do and as little as I have on my plate, I said, I can give something back.”

Since 2005, the Red Cross drivers have picked up Zee Whitaker, 68, of Middletown three times a week. Whitaker doesn’t have a car, and relies on the Red Cross to drive her home from dialysis appointments due to her kidney failure, along with other various medical appointments here and there.

“They’re reliable and very good,” she said of the drivers. “The people are very friendly. It’s just a wonderful situation. … The drivers are wonderful. It’s almost like family.”