Happy Online Community Manager Appreciation Day to STARS’ very own Norene Gonsiewski!
Happy Online Community Manager Appreciation Day to our very own, Norene Gonsiewski who plays an important role in building and maintaining STARS community connections. We are very fortunate to have Norene as she works tirelessly to foster STARS online engagement and promote our mission.
STARS awarded generous Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation Grant
Our heartfelt thanks goes out to the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation for their generous grant. The tribal foundation awarded STARS $7500 for mileage reimbursement for our volunteer drivers. It is because of grants and gifts like this that Sisters Transportation and Ride Share can continue to grow our service offering free rides to non-emergency medical appointments for Sisters Country residents who cannot drive themselves.
Sisters nonprofit is a fundraising success
Sisters Transportation and RideShare (STARS) announced that its year-end ride sponsorship drive has raised a total of $8,100.
The STARS volunteer rideshare program provides Sisters Country residents with free non-emergency rides to medical appointments in Sisters, Bend, and Redmond. STARS “riders” are unable to drive themselves or afford private ride companies, and many rely on the service regularly. Each STARS ride costs an average of $50 and the organization set a goal of raising $5,000 — the equivalent of 100 sponsored rides — during its fundraiser, which kicked off on Giving Tuesday in late November and ran through December of 2024.
What a year STARS had in 2024!
What a year STARS had in 2024! On the organizational level, Sisters Transportation and Ride Share became its’ own entity. After the years of help with “getting on the road”, from Age Friendly Sisters Country. We formed our own board and fulfilled the requirements for non-profit status
STARS seeks ride sponsorships
Sisters Transportation and RideShare (STARS) announced its ride sponsorship “drive” is launching on Giving Tuesday, December 3, and will run through December 31. STARS is a volunteer ride share program that provides Sisters Country residents with free non-emergency medical rides to Sisters, Bend, and Redmond. STARS “riders” are unable to drive themselves or afford private ride services, and many say, without the nonprofit, they would need to cancel their medical visits.
Building blocks: Community engagement on the rise
The October Community Builders meeting was held at the U.S. Forest Service Sisters Ranger District garage. Attendees were welcomed by Lauren DuRocher, acting district ranger while Ian Reid is on a four-month temporary assignment on the Modoc National Forest. He will be back in Sisters in early December.