FriendshipWorks pauses Brookline and Boston medical-appointment volunteer service while seeking sustainable funding

FriendshipWorks has temporarily paused its medical-appointment volunteer program in Brookline and Boston while staff seek sustainable funding, executive director Kyle Robidoux said on the Brookline CAN program.

"We just, within the past 2 to 3 weeks, made a decision to pause our medical [appointment] program in Brookline and Boston," Robidoux said. He added the program remains operational in Newton because that site is funded separately through Newton's older adult services.

Robidoux described the paused service as one in which volunteers accompany older adults to appointments, wait for them and return them home, or provide one-time ride-and-wait assistance for appointments such as oncology visits. He said staff paused the Brookline/Boston operations to "identify longer and more sustainable funding opportunities to make sure that that program is 100% operational on a long standing basis."

The pause means residents who relied on FriendshipWorks for appointment accompaniment in Brookline and Boston may need alternative transportation or caregiver support while the organization seeks funding. Robidoux said the organization is actively pursuing funding and emphasized the program's importance to clients.

For updates, Robidoux encouraged callers to use FriendshipWorks' phone line, which he gave on-air as (617) 482-1510; the on-air website string was unclear in the transcript.