FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Gaye Lynn Wilson
Executive Director, Wilson Rides Inc.
[email protected]
65 Hours of Giving | July 13 @ 8 a.m. – July 16 @ 1 a.m.
Wilson County, TN (June 22, 2026) – A ride to the doctor. Lunch with friends. A trip to the grocery store. A visit with family. For many older adults, these everyday moments are the difference between isolation and independence.
That simple idea is why Wilson Rides was created.
Now entering its sixth annual Give65 campaign, Wilson Rides is inviting the community to invest in the future of aging in Wilson County. During the 65-hour online giving event, held July 13 through July 16, every donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar through $12,500 in matching funds, doubling the impact of every gift.
Wilson Rides provides safe, affordable, volunteer-driven transportation for adults 55+, but its mission extends far beyond providing a ride. The organization helps older adults remain connected to healthcare, healthy food, friendships, volunteer opportunities, community events, and the everyday activities that allow them to continue living independently.
Since its first official ride in May 2021, Wilson Rides has grown into one of Wilson County’s most recognized nonprofits, providing:
- Nearly 5000 round trips
- 16,000+ individual transportation tasks
- 240,000+ volunteer miles driven
- 14,000+ volunteer service hours
- Transportation to more than 223 older adults
- Holiday Happiness Delivered to more than 1500 older adults
- 2400 Food Boxes delivered to partner agencies and older adults in need
Along the way, Wilson Rides has expanded its impact through monthly food box deliveries, Easter and Christmas outreach programs, social luncheons, birthday cards, free transportation for veterans, scholarship rides, volunteer engagement opportunities, medical equipment exchange and leadership in making Wilson County an AARP Age-Friendly Community.
Every mile driven represents more than transportation. It represents a medical appointment that wasn’t missed, groceries that made it home, friendships that continued, and families who gained peace of mind knowing someone cared.
“Wilson Rides was built on neighbors helping neighbors,” said Executive Director Gaye Lynn Wilson. “Our volunteers don’t just drive—they create conversations, build friendships, reduce isolation, and remind older adults that they are valued members of this community. Every donation during Give65 helps preserve independence, dignity, and connection.”
The organization is also seeking volunteer drivers who can give as little as one ride each month. Whether during a lunch break, while running errands, or on the way home from work, one volunteer can make a meaningful difference in the life of an older adult.
“Wilson Rides demonstrates what happens when a community comes together to care for its aging population,” said Maggie Lea, Owner of Home Instead – Wilson County and steward of the Give65 platform. “We’re proud to support this campaign and encourage everyone to be part of the difference.”
How to Get Involved
- Donate online during Give65 from July 13 at 8:00 a.m. through July 16 at 1:00 a.m.
- Start a fundraising challenge as an individual, business, family, church, civic club, or alumni group
- Become a matching donor and inspire others to give
- Volunteer as a driver or community volunteer
- Share the campaign on social media and encourage others to participate
Donors can support Wilson Rides through online gifts, checks, cash, donor-advised funds (DAFs), appreciated stock, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions (RMDs), cryptocurrency, employer matching gifts, and planned or legacy gifts.
Every ride begins with someone who cares. Every gift helps an older adult stay connected to the people, places, and community they love.
About Wilson Rides
Wilson Rides Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established in 2020. Wilson Rides aims to enhance the quality of life and foster a connected community for adults 55+ in Wilson County, TN by providing safe, affordable transportation to local destinations through a network of trained volunteer drivers. Wilson Rides was named the 2022 Nonprofit of Excellence by the Lebanon/Wilson County Chamber of Commerce. Executive Director Gaye Lynn Wilson was named the 2022 Wilsonian of the Year by the Mt. Juliet Chamber of Commerce and Wilson County’s Adult Volunteer of the Year through the Governor’s Volunteer Stars Awards program in 2025. The organization also received the Community Enhancement Award in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, in both January and April 2025. Follow Wilson Rides on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn @wilsonridesinc, listen to the StoryTime with Wilson Rides podcast, and learn more at www.wilsonridesinc.org.
About Give65
Give65 was a signature program of Home Instead Charities from 2016 to 2023 and was the first and only online giving platform exclusively for charitable organizations serving aging adults. Its mission was to inspire generosity in support of older adults in need and the organizations that serve them. In 2024, Home Instead Franchisee Owner Maggie Lea acquired the rights to the Give65 platform and granted Wilson Rides Inc. permission to carry the brand forward.
