Author: Steve Finger

Our number of Ride To Work “graduates” (people who keep their job and find their own way to work) continues to grow. Over 200 riders have now graduated!!!! Some are able to purchase a car or a moped, others found a carpool, some moved close enough to walk to work, still others rode with us until they got their car fixed. Some were short term riders who would have lost their job without our help. We work to stay in touch with our graduates and  are pleased that about 90% are still working six months after graduating and about 75% are still working a year after graduating, and many have even gotten promotions!

Tracy was our 201st graduate. She rode with us for about six weeks until she could save enough for a moped. Here are her comments and a photo with her moped. 

“When I had no reliable way to get to work and felt like every door was closing, Ride to Work Ministry stepped in and changed everything. They didn’t just provide transportation—they gave me the chance to keep my job, stay on track, and move forward. Thanks to their support, I was able to get a moped that became my lifeline. Every morning when I start that engine, I’m reminded that there are people and ministries that truly care.

I’m also deeply grateful for my coach, Katie. She didn’t just check in on me—she guided me, encouraged me, and made sure I was making the right choices during a time when things felt overwhelming. Her support kept me grounded and focused on the goals that mattered most.

Together, Ride to Work Ministry and Katie helped me through one of the toughest challenges in my life, and I’ll always be thankful for the hope and independence they helped me find.”

Don rode with us a couple of days a week when his work schedule didn’t allow him to take the bus. He was able to work part time despite a disability.  He ultimately qualified for SSDI and was able to find his own rides.  Here are his comments after graduating: “The Ride to Work team gave me a much needed reliable, dependable ride back and forth to work when I needed it.  I plan to continue working part time and using my disability to help me move forward in my life.  I just wanted to thank everyone for all they have provided me with.”

Ryan rode with Ride To Work for two months while he saved money to purchase a vehicle. His RTW coach worked with him to develop a realistic budget and guided him on saving for his car. Here is the testimonial he wrote to RTW after he graduated (got his own transportation and kept his job) –  “I am so appreciative of the Ride To Work program that has helped me by taking me to and from my job. I was able to save up enough money to buy a car. Without their help, I wouldn’t have been able to maintain my job. I give thanks to their wonderful service and giving me the chance to participate.  My coach helped me come up with a great monthly budget plan that I will use here on out.  Thank you again Ride to Work for helping to make me whole again”

Patrick rode with us for two months until he was able to afford his own car and was then able to get a promotion at work – “I would like to thank Ride To Work and say how grateful I am that this program was available to me. They helped me to get to work and keep my job. (My coach) kept me on track with my savings goals and in the end it worked out terrific. Truly has been a blessing to me and my family. Thank you all”

Vicki had her drivers license but needed to work long enough to save up money for a car. We provided rides for a couple of months and were able to speed the process with a car donated by a generous local resident. She says “No words can express my gratitude for all your help. This trial was long and very unpleasant but I survived. Thank you for allowing God to use you as He does.  You ministry has changed my life…”

Below (Vicki’s coach with Vicki and her title to the car)

Dondi came to Ride To Work after his car was damaged in an accident and he lost his job because he couldn’t get to work.  He got another job, saved his money and recently graduated.  Ride To Work was able to help him with a donated vehicle. Dondi says:   “The Ride to Work Program has really influenced and changed my life to help me return to work so I can continue to live a better life, and I am forever grateful for that”.

Below (Dondi’s coach and Dondi with his donated vehicle)

Thomas  graduated, getting a moped to get to and from work.  He was especially grateful to his Ride To Work coach, saying “If it wasn’t for him staying on top of things I would not be on the path I am on now. He is someone who shows he truly cares about my success…”  At Ride To Work, each rider has a coach that helps them identify a path to success (finding their own way to work, getting their finances in shape, helping make better life decisions, guiding them to a church, etc).  It is a great joy when our riders move forward in their lives!

Monique has graduated from Ride To Work. She worked at Koyo bearings and saved her money to able to afford insurance, etc. so that when a car became available she was able to afford it.  She says “This is an unimaginable blessing.  I applied to the (Ride To Work) program because it made sure I got to work and allowed me to save money doing so. That alone was a major change in my life. The Ride To Work program was excellent.”

Jason had a steady job, but lost his source of transportation and was in danger of losing his job. Ride To Work carried him for about two months until he could save enough to buy his own car.  He told us: “just wanted to say thanks again. You folks have saved my bacon more than y’all know. It really means a lot and y’all have helped me get myself sorted out and back on the right to track to where I need to be with my life. God bless each of y’all for what you do!”

Cody, Ride To Work graduate: “I first learned about Ride To Work Ministry (RTW) in early January while living at Our Daily Rest. At that time, I also heard back from a job I put in for at BorgWarner. While the pay would be much higher, and I would get full time employment, the distance was too far to traverse daily. It was upon realizing this that I contacted a coach from the ministry. After talking to the success coach from the ministry, I was accepted into the program. I used the program until shortly after March. At this time, I was able to move out on my own and save enough money for my own vehicle. It is thanks to the Ministry that I am now able to live without assistance from a homeless shelter and now possess a means of transportation that had been previously unavailable to me. Not only did I gain this independence, but I also gained the friendship of those that helped me. I am extremely grateful to all who helped me through this process and encourage others in similar situations to enroll into the program.”

Savannah, Ride To Work graduate: “Ride To Work is an awesome ministry. For two months they provided rides for me to and from two different jobs throughout the week while waiting for my car to be repaired. The rides allowed me to save and not rely on other options that were expensive or imposed on others. They were flexible with my schedule and changes. The drivers were timely and friendly. I would recommend the program to anyone needing short term transportation support.”

Michael, Ride To Work graduate: “Thank you Ride To Work Ministry, I would not have been able to get to work without your support. The drivers were always on time and I was never late for work.”

Janice, Ride To Work graduate: “The Ride to Work Ministry helped me out a lot…when my car was broke down. The service was great and the drivers and representatives were helpful.  The Ministry is a great program for people in need.  I needed 1-2 weeks to get my car repaired or replaced.  If I missed work three more days, I would not be able to keep my job after three years.  Instead of losing my job, I am now up for a promotion and have my own transportation again.”

Patricia, Ride To Work graduate: “The Ride To Work program is a wonderful program that helps those in need get a job and keep stable employment. Without the program I would not have been able to keep my job or become self-sufficient. The drivers are always on time and very personable…. the people servicing those in the Ride To Work program do amazing and wonderful work. I can’t express my gratitude or appreciation to this ministry or the God-sent people that are available to make this program work.”

Delitha, Ride To Work graduate: “Thanks for yall’s help giving me rides when I needed help.  I might have lost my job without your help.”

Each year the South Carolina Secretary of State recognizes a select few non profits that have made significant contributions to the well-being of South Carolinians and that have demonstrated good stewardship of charitable resources.  To be selected as an Angel, the charity must have devoted 80% or more of its total expenditures to charitable programs (Ride To Work devotes over 91%); must have been in existence for three or more years; must make good use of volunteer services; must receive minimal funding from grants; must have a significant presence in South Carolina; and must be in compliance with the South Carolina Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act.

Ride To Work Ministry Nonprofit Inc. is honored to be selected as a 2025 Angel Award recipient. Ride To Work started operations in 2017 and has provided nearly 20,000 rides to/from work to local residents who have a job but need temporary transportation until they can find their own way to work. To date Ride To Work Ministry Nonprofit Inc. has carried over 400 riders and recently celebrated its 200th rider graduation. A rider ‘graduates’ when they keep their job and find their own way to work by finding a carpool, getting their car fixed, getting a vehicle (car or moped), getting the driver’s license back, or moving close enough to walk to work or use the Seneca Transit system.  

Ride To Work is staffed entirely by volunteers. Ride To Work contracts with a local commercial driver service to provide rides. Riders pay $5/$10 per day for their rides which cost Ride To Work much more. The difference is made up with donations. One of the important elements of Ride To Work is that it requires riders to have a success plan for finding their own way to work and a Ride To Work volunteer coaches each rider to help them achieve their plan. 

For more information or to volunteer or donate to Ride To Work Ministry Nonprofit Inc. please visit the Ride ToWork website: rtwministry.org.

Photo:Ride To Work Vice President Ron Kaufman accepts the 2025 Angel Award from SC Secrtary of State Mark Hammond

Photo: Ride To Work Board members Alun Buttermore, Rob Birmingham, Ron Kaufman, Ray Emmons and Luis Zenteno with South Carolina Secretary of State Mark Hammond

Ride To Work Ministry Non Profit Inc. is very appreciative of a generous grant of $1,500 from Woodforest National Bank®. The grant is to fund activities related to community services targeted to low- and moderate-income households. Ride To Work provides low-cost rides to/from work for less fortunate individuals in Oconee County, South Carolina who want to work and have a job, but need temporary transportation until they can find their own way to work. The grant from Woodforest will be instrumental in helping us continue this mission.

So far in 2025 Ride To Work provided over 2400 low cost rides to or from work for 48 riders, making it one of the busiest years that Ride To Work has seen since starting operations in 2017. We are currently carrying 7 riders.  20 riders have already graduated….meaning they kept their job and found their own way to work.

Since starting operations in 2017 Ride To Work Ministry Nonprofit Inc. has now carried 400 riders to/from their job. Half of our riders graduate, meaning they keep their job and find their own way to work……some get a car or moped, some find a carpool, some move closer to their job, some rode with us until they could get their driver’s license re-instated, others just needed rides for a few weeks until they could get their car repaired. 

Regardless of their situation Ride To Work accepts applications from individuals in Oconee County who want to work, have a job and just need temporary transportation until they can get to work on their own. Ride To Work volunteers review applications to verify the need, whether our driver service can accommodate their work schedule, and if the potential rider has a credible success plan. 

Everyone at Ride To Work is an unpaid volunteer. We typically carry riders for up a few months, as long as they are meeting their success plan. Ride To Work uses a commercial driver service to provide the rides and charges riders $5-10 per day for rides, which cost us $40-$90 per day.  We make up the difference with donations. Since 2017 Ride To Work has provided nearly 20,000 rides to or from work! 

The Seneca Journal recently ran the attached article highlighting two recent Ride To Work graduates. Both were working steadily and using Ride To Work low cost rides they were able to save and get their own cars. We are so proud of each of them and all the other graduates.

2024 was a very busy year.  Ride To Work provided over 2,800 rides to help 63 local riders get/keep their job. We provided over 900 rides in the last quarter, making it the busiest quarter since Ride To Work started operations in 2017!  Ride To Work is a local non-profit that provides low cost temporary rides to/from work until someone can find their own transportation. We have provided over 17,250 rides to 360 riders since starting operations in 2017.  About half of our riders have graduated, meaning they kept their job and found their own way to work.

About 10 volunteers do all the work of ride scheduling and client mentoring.  Actual rides are provided by a local car service (which gives a volume discount on prices) or by UBER. Riders pay $5 to $10 per day for the rides depending on distance, which cost between $25 and $60 per day depending on rider and work location. Ride To Work covers the difference in cost, through donations.

There continues to be a steady need for this ministry and Ride To Work typically provides rides for between five and ten riders at any given time. We are limited on how many riders we can handle by the number of volunteers, since each volunteer mentors a client. Volunteer mentors coordinate the client’s work schedule with the drivers, help the client work out a credible success plan for their own transportation and help clients make good life choices.

Many Ride To Work riders start out at Our Daily Rest Homeless shelter needing help to get to work once they find a job. Other riders are referred by local employers, temp agencies, SC Vocational Rehab, churches or other local non-profits. All riders are required to have a talk/text phone, pay $5/$10 per day for rides for the upcoming week, keep their job and show up on time for rides, and make good progress on their success plan.

Anyone wishing to donate or volunteer as a mentor please go to the “Want To Help Us” section of this website.  Also, the Car Service that provides the rides needs drivers and pays $10 per hour plus tips for part time or full time work (cars are provided). Anyone with a good driving record can apply and training will be provided.  If interested in driving please call 864-533-5184.

Ride To Work assigns a volunteer coach to each rider.  Men coach men and women coach women. Our coaches are wonderful, giving people.  Coaches frequently make all the difference in a rider’s success by helping them learn to budget and save, by helping them work their way through problems that seemed insurmountable, and just overall guidance and helping them make better decisions in their lives.  Ralph and Ron, two of our dedicated coaches, typify this dedication, helping one rider get his driver’s license back, helping another find a moped, and helping another establish a budget so he could save for a car. Here are two rider’s stories. 

“My name is Ryan from Seneca,  South Carolina. I 
am so appreciative of the ride to work program that has helped me by taking me to and from my job. I was able to save up enough money to buy a car. Without their help, I wouldn’t have been able to maintain my job. I give thanks to their wonderful service and giving me the chance to participate.  My coach (Ralph) helped me come up with a great monthly budget plan that I will use here on out.  Thank you again Ride to Work for helping to make me whole again.“

 

Don tells  us: I was blessed when I was introduced to Ron (my coach) and Reggie (driver) from the Ride To Work Team that gave me much needed reliable rides back and forth to work when I needed them. I just wanted to thank everyone for all they have provided me with.  

Your donated car can help someone get to work!  Ride To Work Ministry Nonprofit Inc. is working  to empower deserving individuals who want to work but need transportation to obtain or keep a job. To donate a car or for more information call 864-903-5493 or use this contact page.  

Has your car taken good care of you all these years but you are ready to move on?  How about sharing your good experience and instead of trading, donate your car to Ride to Work?  We will extend the joy of your ownership to a worthy client who needs transportation to work. We ask that donated cars be in good running condition needing a minimum amount of repair.

Your donated car WILL make a huge difference is someone’s life.  Here is what one recent graduate told us: “It has meant the world to me to get a car from Ride to Work Ministries. I am able to keep providing for my family. It has made me more self-sufficient and proud to be able to have control of my families life. It has changed my life for a more positive brighter future! This has made it possible for my wife to get a promotion at work! Thank you from the bottom of my family’s heart.”