Falconer native Kevin Davenport believes everyone wants to help those in need. One of the ways to do that is through the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program in which volunteeers provide patients free transportation for cancer-related medical appointments. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

Kevin Davenport sat at a Boys Club of America fundraiser at Russells in Williamsville this spring when he struck up a conversation with a man sitting next to him.

It turned out that Davenport’s new friend was dealing with a family crisis — his wife had cancer and he was, understandably, overwhelmed.

Davenport, a Falconer native, asked what he could do.

The answer was simple.

“I could use parking passes,” the acquaintance said.

Three days later, while his wife was undergoing treatment at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, the man received a year’s worth, courtesy of Davenport.

It was a simple act of kindness that had a lasting impact.

“He called me in tears,” Davenport said.

Recalling that interaction, Davenport believes that everyone wants to help those in need, but “they just don’t know where the opportunities lie.”

Davenport has a suggestion.

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According to a brochure from the American Cancer Society, its “Road to Recovery” program is in need of volunteer drivers to provide patients free transportation for cancer-related medical appointments.

Davenport, who lives in Lancaster and is an advisory board member of the Buffalo chapter of the ACS, said that need is particularly acute in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.

“Driving is something everybody can do,” he said. “That’s why I think it’s a unique opportunity. You don’t even have to know anything about cancer. Just get in your car and drive. We’ve tried to promote this in Buffalo for school-age kids. … If you’re 18 and you’re a senior in high school and looking for volunteer hours, this is a perfect fit.”

It’s also a perfect gift to those in need.

“It provides folks with an opportunity to get to their appointments that are so necessary in their care,” Davenport said. “The hard part is getting volunteers, so when COVID happened, they shut it all down, and now they’re starting to open it back up. … We want to start promoting it and we need volunteers to drive.”

That’s especially true in the western Southern Tier.

“In Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties, I think there is one driver in Chautauqua and none in Cattaraugus, so the need is greater here than it is in Buffalo,” Davenport said, who admitted that many people don’t know the program even exists.

To become a Road to Recovery volunteer, one can visit cancer.org/drive or call 800-227-2345. A one-hour training session is required, but it can be done online; a background check will be conducted; and each volunteer will be set up with a smartphone app.

“If you’re not technologically savvy, they’ll walk you through it, step by step,” Davenport said.

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In his professional life, Davenport has, among other things, been a physical education teacher, a principal, an oncology nurse and a director at Roswell Park. He also serves as a Road to Recovery driver.

“There’s nothing better for me than to know you’re making a difference to someone who couldn’t,” Davenport said. “The look on their face says it all. … It’s worth its weight in gold. The more you do it, the more you’re engaged, and you hear stories from people about their path and how they got there. You meet some interesting people. They are so appreciative and so thankful.”

Davenport first experienced that appreciation during his time as an oncology nurse.

“You’re seeing them when all the chips are stacked against them,” he said. “You’re seeing them when they need the most help they’ve probably ever needed. If you’re there to extend an olive branch to help them, there’s nothing better.

“My mom always used to say, ‘Go out in the world and make an impact where you can make an impact.'”

Those are words to live by.

Or, in this case, to drive by.