The Davies Project: Driving Access to Care, One Mile at a Time

For families facing serious illness, getting to a medical appointment should not be another challenge they have to overcome.

But for many families in the greater Lansing area, transportation can become a significant barrier to accessing healthcare. Among local children, one in four live below the poverty line, while one in five deal with a serious illness. For expecting mothers and families with children who need medical care, finding a reliable way to get to an appointment can add another layer of stress to an already difficult situation.

The Davies Project is working to change that, one ride at a time.

Through a network of volunteer drivers, The Davies Project provides transportation to medical appointments, helping children, families and expecting mothers get the care they need.

Removing a Barrier

Healthcare is only accessible if people can get there. For families without reliable transportation, a medical appointment can involve figuring out a ride, navigating schedules, managing costs or finding another solution when public transportation isn’t practical.

The Davies Project addresses that challenge directly.

As one volunteer driver put it, “It just made so much sense to be able to remove a barrier for the children and their families and expecting mothers to get access to care.” That simple idea is at the heart of the program. A volunteer gets behind the wheel, and a family gets one less thing to worry about.

More Than a Ride

Volunteering as a driver is more than providing transportation from one location to another. It is an opportunity to offer support to families during moments when they may need it most. By helping someone arrive safely and on time for an important medical appointment, volunteers become part of a larger community effort to make healthcare more accessible.

For many drivers, that connection is one of the most meaningful parts of volunteering.

The Davies Project helps volunteers understand the need within the community and the difference their time can make. Instead of wondering whether a single ride matters, drivers can see how their contribution helps families avoid missing critical appointments simply because they don’t have a reliable way to get there.

An Opportunity to Make a Difference

The challenges facing families can sometimes feel overwhelming. Poverty, illness and access to healthcare are complex issues, and it can be difficult to know where to start.

Volunteering with The Davies Project offers a tangible place to begin. Drivers provide their time and transportation to help families get where they need to go. Volunteers also receive mileage reimbursement at a rate of $0.70 per passenger mile, recognizing the costs associated with providing the service.

But the value of the program goes beyond mileage or miles driven. Every trip represents an opportunity to remove a barrier. Every appointment reached is one less missed opportunity for care. And every volunteer driver becomes another person helping strengthen the community around local families.

Drive Change

Making a difference doesn’t always require a grand gesture. Sometimes, it means getting in a car and driving someone to an appointment.

The Davies Project gives people in the greater Lansing area an opportunity to turn their time into meaningful support for children, expecting mothers and families navigating healthcare challenges. For anyone looking for a practical way to give back, becoming a volunteer driver can be a powerful place to start.

One ride can remove a barrier. One volunteer can make that ride possible. And together, a community can help make sure transportation doesn’t stand between a family and the care they need.