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Updated: 8:40 PM Feb 14, 2010
New Business Runs Errands for Those Who Can't
Road Runners is dedicated to running errands for those who can't and inspiring others to lend a hand to people in need.
Posted: 4:59 PM Feb 14, 2010Reporter: Carrie Jones Email Address: carrie.jones@wsaz.com |
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17 Comments 
PUTNAM COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- At 76, Gene Ballard thought he'd be spending his retired years pursuing his favorite hobbies like making fishing lures. Instead, he's taken on a new job of helping people in need.
He started up Genie's Road Runners, an errand running service around Putnam County. Gene spends most of his times on the road, making stops at grocery stores and pharmacies.
"If you could, imagine people with feet trouble, back trouble, leg trouble and they have nobody to help them," said Ballard.
His services also include household tasks, inside and outside. Ballard says if someone needs their dishes washed, counters cleaned or the vacuum ran, he'll do it.
Road Runners been in operation for just under two weeks. His clients include the elderly, people with mobility problems and even a couple who has Ballard run errands for their parents if they have to leave town.
The price for his services run around $10 to $20, to cover the basics. "I can't do it free because I can't afford to just give it away as far as gasoline, insurance and automobile expenses go," he said.
For Ballard, his ultimate mission is make sure every town has a service like Road Runners available.
"What I'm trying to do, down on the bottom line is excite people to do it in their community and their town," he said. "All I can do here is maybe a 20 mile circle, there are a lot of 20 mile circles all over the nation. It's got to be this way all over the nation."
He's already received call from people in West Virginia, Tennessee and Arizona who are interested in starting services like his.
For more information on Road Runners, you can call (304) 542-0941.
Latest Comments
JT - the 1mil coverage is traditionally the minimum per-vehicle coverage for livery vehicles (people transport like taxis or limos...shuttles have a higher minimum and ambulettes even higher). People in a courier service usually only require standard coverage, and I believe Gene's RoadRunners qualifies as a courier service. Having owned/operated both a courier and a limo company, Gene's personal vehicle insurance coverage should be sufficient, with a small rider for the added driving, and so long as he isn't taking his clients with him on the errands - which turns him into a taxi/limo category and requires the higher level of coverage.
Gene this is fantastic to see you giving a helping hand, not to many people would follow through. About the ones complaining that you are trying to start a business to get rich, better start looking again. They are envious that they did not think of it first! Keep up the good work!
I'm Gene's daughter & I'm proud of my dad for what he's doing. He wants OTHERS to take up the cause and find those in need to help in their area. Dad did get legal advise when he started this.Jim,expenses for gas and insurance make it so that he has to charge a small fee, my dad is not a wealthy man,he's just a very good one.If he had a lot of money, he would do this for free. His hope is other people will want to do what he is doing. So many think it's a wonderful idea and want to do it in their area.It could be something very helpful for the unemployed person to help others & make enough to fill thier tank to look for work, with enough clients and good organization, it would pay well to do it w/o charging large fees. I am working on a start up guide and it will now include what I find out about the insurances JT mentioned. It is to make it easier for those who want to do this to get started. It is a work in progress & not completed as yet since he has just been doing this for2 weeks
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