A Driving Need
WEST SUNBURY — Dave Travaglio constantly sees the effects of the horrible maladies that afflict the young children with whom he volunteers. He also sees their perseverance as a beacon of light in an otherwise dismal situation.
Some of them have horrendous burns, others have neurological disorders that could prevent them from ever walking again. But it's their unadulterated hope and determination that in turn inspires Travaglio every day to volunteer his time to those children without asking for any compensation in return.
"It's kind of cliché to say, but it's true that you get a lot more back than you ever give," he said about volunteering. "It just reinforces how thankful you should be when you see some of these kids who'll never walk and most of them are cheerful and happy. In that sense you get more than you ever put in."
Travaglio, 59, of West Sunbury volunteers driving sick children to Shriners hospitals in Erie, Philadelphia and Cincinnati. He knows that being friendly isn't in the job description, just simply to deliver passengers safely to their destination.
But it's never that easy, he said, as the kids open up and share their world with him. Long conversations and emotional stories highlight the journeys across Pennsylvania and into Ohio, trips that can take more than 6 hours.
Those trips provide an opportunity for genuine bonds to form and caring relationships to flourish.
"We're there to transport the kids, and we don't want to push the personal aspect too close," Travaglio said. "But it's just impossible not to bond with them. That's the feeling of a lot of drivers, too. If they know a certain child needs a trip, they will request to drive that child."
Travaglio's still a self-described rookie in the "Roadrunner" program organized by the Shriner's Syria Temple in Cheswick, Allegheny County. He embarks on about two trips per month driving around the state and into Ohio to move the sick children. The program consists of more than 50 volunteers who drive the sick children for free.
Travaglio said he's been involved with the Shriner's for more than 30 years, but he only took an active role in the organization once he retired several years ago. He previously worked for a company that specialized in school photographs, putting him in constant contact with youngsters for his entire career.
He said he wanted to give back to the community in one way or another after he retired, and the Shriners' program offered him the perfect opportunity to do that.
He often travels to Cheswick for meetings and to pick up vans to carry the children.
James Allison, the recorder for the Syria Shrine in Cheswick, said his particular chapter includes more than 8,000 Shriners from as far away as West Virginia and Meadville.
He said he couldn't possibly count how many of those members volunteer, but added no member is paid for any service to the community.
Allison also praised people such as Travaglio and other Roadrunners as crucial volunteers who continually give their time and energy to help less fortunate children and families.
Allison also said the Syria Shrine provides several services to the community, including brigades that travel all across the country to march in parades.
He also mentioned the Shriners' circus that is coming to Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh April 3 to 5. That event, he said, is the organization's biggest fundraiser.
"There's no way of putting a bona fide number on how many volunteers we have, but it's very extensive," Allison said. "They help so much, too, especially in supporting our Shriners hospitals for children. And they do a very good job of it."
<B>Address: </B>1877 Shriners Way Cheswick, PA 15024<B>Administrator: </B>David M. Heldman, Illustrious Potentate<B>Services: </B>Roadrunners program taking children to hospitals, parades, Shriners' circus<B>Phone:</B> 724-274-7000<B>Web site: </B>www.syriashriners.org
