Member Highlight: Interlink Volunteer Caregivers

​The mission of Interlink Volunteer Caregivers (IVC) is to provide volunteer transportation (FREE door through door) along with minor home safety modification (wheelchair ramps, handrails & grab bars) services to the elderly, disabled, and chronically ill individuals to live independently in their own homes.

Executive Director Jeanette Roe told us a little bit about their vital Twin Falls services.

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What is one of the proudest accomplishments of your nonprofit?

Our team’s (Board, ED, staff, & volunteers) commitment to IVC’s mission includes a clear understanding of our core values, and the vision for the future detailed through our strategic planning and goal setting process. IVC continues to provide quality volunteer transportation and home safety modifications within our service area because of the years of planning and team dedication. Our team commitment has strengthened our overall passion for service.

Our volunteers provide friendly, reliable transportation and home safety modifications to homebound social isolation seniors so they can access their community’s services at a time of their choosing. IVC’s volunteers enjoy having a sense of purpose and community involvement by helping. “Giving the Gift of Home” is a priceless gift.
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What are the biggest rewards or what do you enjoy most about the work you do?

Many of your neighbors desperately need IVC’s services to access their community’s essential services and resources. Can you picture your life without the ability to get to the doctor’s office, medical clinic for treatment/testing, grocery store, or pharmacy? For hundreds of our community members, the picture you have imagined is a common reality.

Here are just a few client stories showing IVC’s impact on their quality of life:
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I appreciate all you do for me.
You have made it easier for all my treatments. Thank you all, you are all God sent. Bless you.
Helping me to make important medical appointments, without a doubt, impacts my quality of life greatly.
I feel confident knowing I’m going to have a safe, confident, cheerful ride to and from my appointments.
I would be dead already if I had not gotten a message about IVC. My driving was unsafe after dialysis. I ran off the road. Thank goodness I didn’t die.
Since my husband can no longer drive and my being blind, we depend on IVC for medical and groceries.
If I’m in a down mood, the drivers always cheer me up and make me feel like I am somebody instead of a nobody.

This is why I enjoy having my Executive Director role at IVC. The personal impact stories make my job very rewarding!


What are some of the biggest challenges you face day-to-day?

Given the nature of a 501(c)3 nonprofit, funding is always the biggest factor in preparing an annual budget which keeps in line with our strategic plan, mission, values, and vision. Over the past two years the annual budget has continued to increase, largely due to our service programs. More client transports, mileage, and the increased mileage reimbursement rate has increased our program expenses.

IVC continues to adjust COVID-19 safety protocols in a proactive manner to ensure the safety of our volunteers and our vulnerable clients as a top priority. COVID boosters has helped our volunteers/clients continue providing/seeking IVC’s one-on-one services.

Continuing high gas costs may discourage volunteers from volunteering more hours or may be limiting the number of miles they are willing to travel. Providing additional gas cards could help address the situation, along with the ability to increase the federal mileage reimbursement rate.

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What is one thing you wish your donors/the general public knew about nonprofit work?

Special consideration for services will be given to the elderly, non-wheel chair disabled, and chronically-ill who are the most vulnerable.

92% of IVC's clients are over the age of 60
50% of IVC's clients are 75 years of age and over 63% of IVC's clients live in their own home alone
72% of them are women, with 45% being women age 75 and over
37% of IVC's clients live in the City of Twin Falls, while
63% reside outside the city limits of Twin Falls or in surrounding marginalized counties without any available transportation options.

Our community is stronger and healthier because of IVC's commitment to serve this underserved demographic. Elderly community members are allowed more independence (less isolation) in their own homes, which leads to a healthy, higher quality of life, self-reliance, and well-rounded community. Enabling seniors to stay in their own homes has a powerful side effect – Seniors can stay out of nursing facilities and hospitals, which saves taxpayers money. As a higher percentage of community members turn age 60 (while living longer), the services of IVC will become more vital to each community within our service area.

Our programs are designed to help those who need the services the most and don't qualify for any other programs or resources. Many individuals struggle every day to gain access to health care for medical treatments which severely affects their quality of life. Access barriers are issues preventing people from receiving timely medical care, including lack of transportation. IVC has been providing transportation and minor home safety modification services to this vulnerable and isolated population since 1997, so our client's overall safety and quality of life does not deteriorate. IVC’s services also help delay the incidence of long-term institutionalization for most of our clients.
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​What is one thing you wish your donors/the general public knew about nonprofit work?

Partnering together will allow IVC to continue the essential services to keep the aging population of our community healthy, independent and safe as long as possible, which saves the community at large. Every day they are able to live at home is a huge benefit to the individual, their family, the health care system, and the community.

​IVC’s volunteer workforce contributed over 7,139 hours for an estimated value of $160,910 with 94,454 volunteer reimbursable miles in 2021.


Why did you decide to invest in an INC membership?

The return on our membership is so much greater than the cost. We are allowed to participate and encourage other non-profits, while sharing the personal ups and downs of working for a non-profit. INC provides personal development, continuing education, advocacy, and fund raising opportunities like Idaho Gives.

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