Seniors Around Town driver Susan Hamilton (right) and rider Martina Flinn ready for a ride to a morning medical appointment.
Twenty years ago, Orinda’s senior citizens became a lot more mobile when a free door-to-door transportation program – called Seniors Around Town (SAT) – got its start.
Celebrating its 20 years of service in 2025, the program is still going strong with volunteers driving seniors to doctor appointments, errands and social events in the Lamorinda, Berkeley and Walnut Creek areas, Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Founder Kate Wiley of Orinda, who retired as director of SAT in January to devote more time to her six grandchildren and not-so-retired husband, explained how SAT got started in the first place.
“The City of Orinda applied for and received a $30,000 transportation grant,” said Wiley. “The city contacted The Orinda Association to join a group of local leaders to identify how best to use this grant. The results confirmed that the need was to assist our senior residents with transportation to medical appointments and run errands.”
Wiley talked about the navigational difficulties Orinda’s aging population has when it comes to transportation.
“The challenges include not being serviced by (local transit) due to living too far from bus stops and routes, not qualifying to use the LINK van, giving up driving themselves due to challenging, busy freeways, winding, single lane Orinda roads, and greater distances to travel for medical appointments,” she said. “Although some medical practices do have Orinda offices, the trend was for medical offices, clinics and campuses to move further out of the area – especially after COVID-19.”
Eloise Sotelo, a board member of The Orinda Association, and now director of the SAT program, outlined why this service is important to her and the community she lives in.
“It’s a population that is frequently underserved,” she said. “We support their desire to live independently and maintain their dignity. It provides caregivers much needed respite by providing their loved one transportation – which allows them to have some time to care for themselves.”
On the flip side, Sotelo said it connects seniors with “our incredible drivers who are neighbors who care deeply for their community by providing this service.”
Sotelo added, “It’s an opportunity for seniors who might be otherwise isolated to connect with these amazing individuals during their drive. It reminds them that they are not alone. In 2024, the program served 76 seniors with an average age of 81. On average, they requested 18 rides for the year.”
Cathy Goshorn of Lafayette started with SAT in 2015 first as a scheduler and co-coordinator of the program, then became a volunteer driver and eventually the coordinator of SAT until May.
She talked about why the program was an important part of her life.
“I loved building community among the drivers, riders and SAT staff,” she said. “It is a personal program and more than a transportation service to the seniors of Orinda. We support their needs to thrive, both physical and emotional.”
Judy White, an Orinda resident for 37 years, has used SAT for 15 years and cannot say enough good things about the program.
“In all the years of using Seniors Around Town, I have never missed a medical appointment,” she said. “If you are experiencing ill health, the driver will find room for your walker and, if needed, make sure that you get to the front door before driving away.”
White said she loves how the program is extremely well-run.
“The people in the Seniors Around Town office are super friendly and do a fabulous job of finding drivers for all of our appointments,” she said. “We are given the name and the phone number of the driver in advance. The driver will call us the day before and we can both certify the time and the place of the pick-up.”
For Susan Hamilton, an SAT driver for more than 10 years and an Orinda resident for 35 years, becoming a driver meant she could satisfy her love for talking with folks older than herself.
“I love learning about their histories, what brought them to Orinda or the history of Orinda if they are natives,” said Hamilton.
She also knows how seniors can suffer from loneliness too.
“My mother struggled with isolation and driving issues and I wish this type of service was available to her when she was alive,” she said.
Wiley said that loneliness has been associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke and worse symptoms of diabetes and other chronic conditions.
“It can also cause depression and anxiety,” she said. “People who are more connected tend to have healthier lifestyles – they tend to be exercising and are less likely to engage in substance abuse.”
Wiley said seniors may also face unique barriers to making friends compared to other age groups.
“They often don’t have a default social network – they’ve lost friends who have moved away or died, they have mobility problems or struggle with vision or hearing that can make it difficult for people to engage,” added Wiley. “The human connection is what makes this program work.”
White can wholeheartedly attest to the human connection aspect.
“In 1988, I was working to help put my daughters through college and didn’t have much time to get to know people in Orinda. I taught school in Hayward and so that was the city that I most identified with,” recalled White. “So, once I retired, I began to use SAT and they put me in touch with people of all ages who had volunteered to be drivers. This fabulous program has helped to bind relationships between my generation – the older generation – and the next several generations down. To this day, many of the people I have met through Seniors Around Town are my good friends and Orinda has definitely become ‘my city’.”
While many believe Orinda to be an affluent community, Hamilton said many residents live on fixed incomes while family members have left the area, leaving residents very isolated.
“I love helping anyone feel like they belong here, no matter their circumstances or history. Some are our local retired teachers, medical and business professionals. It feels full circle to me,” said Hamilton.
In order to become a volunteer SAT driver, requirements include being an Orinda resident, must complete a thorough DMV and criminal background check, and finally, go through an interview and orientation.
Hamilton said, recruitment, however, can be challenging.
“I’ve worked with non-profit volunteer organizations and know how difficult it is to recruit and retain volunteers,” she said. “I appreciate how SAT staff works very hard to help volunteers stay connected to each other and the program.”
Goshorn recalls many touching and funny stories through her years of service to SAT.
“An Orinda senior woman popped into the office and said, ‘I understand you help seniors … could you find me a husband?’” said Goshorn. “During a ride, a senior turned to me and said, ‘I honestly don’t know what I would do without Seniors Around Town’.”
Giving props to SAT founder Wiley, Goshorn said “She devoted 20 years and countless number of volunteer hours to creating, developing and maintaining the SAT program with the tag line, ‘It’s more than a ride!’”
Sotelo, along with the Seniors Around Town staff, want to inspire others to donate or become a driver.
“The SAT Program is a non-profit that relies on donations to keep it going,” she said. “I encourage those that can – to donate to this remarkable program.”
The annual fundraising drive begins Aug. 1 and continues until Sept. 6.
“We always welcome new drivers to our program,” said Sotelo. “Please join us in getting to know and serve our senior neighbors.”
For more information, visit bit.ly/4f3gbrE.
