Fuel cost hard on volunteers
By ALEXANDRA BISSONNETTE Special to the Daily Press
DOWNTOWN For many, high gas prices have meant limiting some of the frivolous spending that has defined American culture in recent years, while others are forced to cut back on something a little more meaningful — volunteering.
Angel Flight West (AFW), a local nonprofit organization that arranges free, non-emergency air travel for individuals with serious medical conditions or other compelling needs, relies on pilots throughout the West who are willing to donate their time, money, and planes to transport patients in need.
But with gas prices soaring, the number of pilots who can afford to make the flights has declined.
“We certainly have pilots who can’t afford as many flights as in the past,” said Cheri Cimmarrusti, director of mission operations at AFW.
As of July 31, AFW had canceled 321 flights — or missions — so far this year. In the same time period last year, only 220 missions had been canceled due to lack of available pilots. Cimmarrusti attributes this increase to the debilitating cost of fuel for pilots.
“It has gotten a lot more expensive,” said retired marine Jon Wells, who has been a volunteer pilot at AFW for five years. “One 500 mile flight can cost about $350.” Wells now works as a distribution center manager at American Honda Motors. He had been using his Marine Corps retirement money to pay for his missions, but now he says he is tapping into his family fund.
“I have the bug,” Wells said, explaining why he can’t stop flying for AFW.
The nonprofit, whose pilots often fly in and out of Santa Monica Airport, is hoping to get more pilots involved to cut costs for current volunteers. The short-term solution has been to split flights, meaning two pilots fly one mission by meeting in the middle. But using two pilots per mission reduces the number of pilots available to fly.
“Our goal is to get the word out to the aviation community,” said Cimmarrusti. “We need to increase the number of pilots flying for us.”
AFW is not the only organization facing a shortage of volunteers. Kathy Sipes, director of volunteer services for the UCLA health system, has had similar challenges.
“We have [noticed a decline in volunteers], especially those who live far away and those on a fixed income,” Sipes said. “It has affected them.”
Sipes is concerned about the lack of volunteers able to make the drive, stating that they add the “warm touch,” to the hospital.
“It started with people being concerned about the economy, but as gas prices have risen, the problem has escalated,” Sipes said.
UCLA is currently trying to recruit new volunteers, specifically for the student program, as the commute is much shorter. Some volunteers were driving from as far as Orange County.
While AFW and UCLA scramble to find more volunteers, one organization is thankful that it has not lost anyone yet.
The local branch of Meals on Wheels has successfully maintained their fleet of volunteers.
“We have been giving them gas cards twice a year at volunteer recognition events as a thank you,” said Rosemary Regalbuto, the president and CEO of Meals on Wheels West, which serves Santa Monica. “We have also tightened up our routs and everything is geographically concentrated in Santa Monica.”
Regalbuto did acknowledge that her colleagues throughout the country were having trouble with the high gas prices. She attributes the fortune of her branch to the fact that the driving distance is so minimal, but she added that Meals on Wheels West is “extremely fortunate that [the volunteers] haven’t left.”
What makes the situation even more challenging is that as the economy declines, more individuals are in need of these charitable services and less volunteers are able to donate time and money.
Although gas prices have been inching down, national gas prices still average $3.80 per gallon, a one dollar increase from last year.
With the rising cost of both food and fuel, there may be little relief for organizations and companies that rely on volunteers.
“A lot of people are hurting and when you’re hurting, you don’t want to spend money,” said Hal Dash, president of Cerrell Associates, a local political strategy firm. “Even people who are well off are cautious in these times.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 16, 2008. Read the original PDF.