WESTFAIR RIDES EXPANDS

Three new staff members have been appointed to the operations team of WestFair Rides (WFR) in Mount Kisco according to Catherine Wynkoop, president of the nonprofit, volunteer-based organization that provides rides to medical appointments for older adults and adults with disabilities. The new members, who will provide information and referrals, include Joni Kretzmer, a nonprofit program administrator, appointed to oversee recruitment of new volunteers; Jamila Francis, whose background is in community and public health; and Thomas Odlum, a recent college graduate.

Kretzmer”™s experience includes nonprofit program administration and direct client support. Prior to joining WestFair Rides, he served as a volunteer program administrator at DOROT Westchester.

Francis brings a decade of experience in nutrition and public health counseling. Having worked primarily with women and children”™s health programs, she is embracing the opportunity to work with underserved older adults. Previously, she served as WIC Nutritionist at Optimus Health Care in Stamford. She earned her bachelor”™s degree at SUNY Oneonta and master”™s degree in public health at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy.

Odlum started at WestFair Rides in a part-time role, while pursuing his bachelor”™s degree at Emory University. He researched and helped to build the information and referral database at WestFair Rides, a hub designed to help the organization”™s call-center staff provide referrals to support services to older adults and adults with disabilities in the community. After graduating with a bachelor”™s degree he now works in the WestFair Rides Call Center fulfilling ride requests for medical transportation and providing referrals to community members for an array of support services.

Since its founding in 2011, WFR”™s dedicated network of volunteer drivers has provided nearly 17,000 rides to medical, dental and cancer treatment appointments for individuals who might have otherwise foregone critical medical care.