From left, Pat Edmonds, Dianne Carter, Mabel Sawyer, and Carol Landry of Harvard Help. Missing from photo: Marty Green and Shirley Chung. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)

In January 1977, a group of volunteers gathered together to solidify their efforts to ensure that no one in their town would go without something many people take for granted—transportation. More than 30 years later, Harvard Help, a grassroots organization of neighbors helping neighbors, still serves the town of Harvard.

The genesis of the organization was a result of the concern that as the town continued to grow, the injured, elderly, disabled, and others would be forgotten. In the beginning, volunteers delivered meals, drove people to appointments, and even served as emergency babysitters. Over time, Harvard Help has adopted a more simplistic model that focuses primarily on transportation. The group is made up of a six-person steering committee—Dianne Carter, president; Pat Edmonds, vice president; Mabel Sawyer, Treasurer; Shirley Chung, clerk; and members Marty Green and Carol Landry. There is also a network of 45 drivers and phone answerers.

Harvard Help operates Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Anyone who needs to schedule a ride for an appointment, grocery shopping, small errand, or unforeseen reason, calls the Harvard police dispatch nonemergency line and requests the number of the Harvard Help answerer of the day. That volunteer later relays requests to the log keeper, who records the future appointments and calls drivers to schedule transportation. Generally, the average distance a driver travels is within a 25-mile radius of Harvard. On a typical day, drivers usually receive two calls.

Carter feels Harvard Help is a service that is invaluable to the town in many ways. "People have someone to call when they really need help," she says. "We offer a more personalized service. Our drivers escort their clients into where they need to go and stay with them. They are developing connections that are extremely rewarding. The most important thing we provide is the opportunity for seniors to stay in their homes. Many times the elderly lose their ability to drive and are forced to move to a more centralized location. We don't have public transportation here so this service is vital to our community."

Green agrees that Harvard Help is unique in many ways. She attributes a great deal of its success to the efforts of the Harvard Police Department and their dispatchers. "Their support is essential," she says. "Police dispatch is a number that everyone finds readily. If we didn't have their help with coordinating the calls, I don't know where we would go."

Additionally, because many of its current phone answerers are now clients, the group has remained strong. Still River Road's Phyllis Newman, a resident of Harvard for 58 years, has taken calls for the organization the first Monday of the month since its inception. "I used to just be a volunteer," she says. "Now, I rely on this service. The drivers are very helpful. They will take you shopping, to appointments, to social activities in town, and anywhere you need to go. They are filled with love and kindness."

Arly Waldron, of Warren Avenue, is also a volunteer. "I am 85. I am happy to be able to do this," she says. "Everyone should contribute to their community when they can. I have used this service and I want to help so that others can use it, too."

The group has always kept the schedule filled with volunteer drivers, but lately has seen those numbers decrease. Carter is concerned. "We have lots of phone answerers but our need for regular and emergency drivers really needs to be filled," she says. "It is a one-day-a-month commitment. We know that career and family commitments can be challenging. But our friends and neighbors need us to be there for them. We are asking people in Harvard to call us and volunteer. Today's volunteer could be tomorrow's resident-in-need."

To find out more about becoming a volunteer, contact President Dianne Carter at 978-456-8322 or Vice President Pat Edmonds at 978-456-8367. For Harvard Help assistance call 978-456-8276.