What may seem common to some can be a hardship and rare privilege for others. But thanks to volunteer Cyndi Canevari of Warwick’s Friendly Visitor Program, seniors like Dorothy Eumont no longer have to worry about how they'll find transportation to weekly appointments and errands.

"I would not be able to exist or to continue without it because my children, they don’t live in the area," said Eumont.

Eumont, a senior citizen, had to give up her car when she got a hip replacement.

She needed a way to get around, so she reached out to the Warwick Friendly Visitor Program.

On a recent day, Canevari, a volunteer, took Eumont to a doctor’s appointment. Canevari is one of 225 Friendly Visitor Program volunteers across Orange County. She volunteered to help in January after she retired.

"Put yourself in their situation and your independence is taken away because you can't drive anymore, or your family members have moved to other parts of the country," said Canevari.

Orange County's elderly population went up by three percent over the last decade. Not surprisingly, the Friendly Visitor Program has also seen a bump in demand.

The Jewish Family Service of Orange County runs the program with funding from the Orange County Office for the Aging. The program has grown to serve six municipalities across the county.

"They deserve all the respect for what they’ve given to the world at that point and many times, they’re alone. And so I just enjoy bringing a little company to their lives, and helping them out with whatever it is that they need," said Canevari.

The next stop on the pair's trip was the pharmacy.

Eumont had an appointment to get her COVID-19 booster shot.

The motto of the program is "neighbors helping neighbors," but it seems Canevari and Eumont are more than that.

"The volunteers have been wonderful and each one of them has been very, very special. They're my family now, and my friends," said Eumont.