PORT TOWNSEND — The Ecumenical Christian Helping Hands Organization (ECHHO) has spent the past quarter-century running errands and providing free rides and free medical equipment.

It’s all in the name of helping people who are elderly or disabled continue to live independently, and “it has been fulfilling work,” said Rich Heitman, one of ECHHO’s few paid staffers.

Heitman began as an intern about a decade ago after moving to Port Townsend from the Washington, D.C., area.

The pandemic has been tough on the agency. For years, volunteers have been driving clients to medical appointments near and far, devoting a few hours per week to the trips.

“Before COVID, we had about 50 drivers,” said ECHHO board member Dr. David Whitney.

But the pandemic “knocked those numbers way down,” he said.

ECHHO needs new volunteers — about a dozen, Heitman said — to join the driving team.

The agency is also seeking a volunteer coordinator.

Drivers take clients to medical appointments in Port Townsend, Sequim, Poulsbo, Silverdale and even Seattle depending on availability, Whitney said. ECHHO reimburses volunteers for fuel costs and ferry fares.

Before they hit the road, volunteers are carefully screened, Heitman added; they need a good driving record, car insurance and a reliable vehicle.

Volunteer drivers must be fully vaccinated including a booster shot, and they must wear a mask while indoors including inside the car.

For information, phone ECHHO’s office at 360-379-3246 or email info@echhojc.org. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday while the website, www.echhojc.org, has additional details about services including free medical equipment for home use and the free rides and errand-running.

Time spent with a senior client is a rewarding experience for the volunteer, Heitman said. That person in the car with you has “had a long and interesting life … You make a new friend,” he said.

ECHHO, whose office is at 1110 Jefferson St., has continued to grow thanks to support from local organizations and individual donors, according to the history page on its website. Contributors have included the Jefferson Community Foundation, Jefferson Healthcare, the Olympic Area Agency on Aging, Port Townsend Rotary and Edensaw Community Cancer Foundation.

In addition to the rides to appointments, ECHHO provides a lot of gear from its two rooms full of things like wheelchairs, special beds, elevated toilet seats and walkers, Whitney added.

“We have everything,” he said.

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Jefferson County Senior Reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-417-3509 or durbanidelapaz @peninsuladailynews.com.