Serving a multi-county area makes for some long days for Perry Wellness Center drivers, as peers are picked up in 11 towns throughout Southwest Georgia, including: Butler, Oglethorpe, Montezuma, Buena Vista, Mauk, Oakland, Box Springs, Andersonville, Leesburg, Ideal, and Americus. Perry Wellness Center’s Peer Transport, Inc. operates three vans each day, six days per week.

Transportation director Tara Melo points out, “Our vans travel almost 1,000 miles each day to bring clients to Perry Wellness Center.” Travel begins at 5:30 a.m., as the vans head out to pick up peers. Drivers for the PWC vans are the first and last points of contact for most peers each day, so the importance of their roles can not be overstated, not only for safety purposes, but peers’ general welfare.

PWC founder and CEO Stuart Perry explains, “Our drivers must be prepared to be the first individuals that clients meet when they board our vans. We all work to be understanding and attentive to the needs of peers.”

In the photo above, transportation director Tara Melo and certified van driver Arthur Patillo prepare for another busy day of transportation.