A year-old volunteer nonprofit that shuttles Marines and their loved ones between the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms and area airports will host a “Sponsor a Ride” fundraiser on Friday, Oct. 24, to meet surging holiday demand for its complimentary service.
29-PSP says it has provided more than 2,000 no-cost rides over the past 18 months, an estimated savings of about $250 per trip and nearly $500,000 overall, and expects to deliver 500-plus rides from late November through early January. The Oct. 24 event runs 5–7 p.m. at a private Palm Springs residence (address provided after RSVP) with a suggested $50 donation per person to cover fuel and rented 15-passenger vans. Stater Brothers Charities is the event sponsor.
“ We’re grateful to the local communities that have supported us from the beginning,” said Sherman Tam, 29-PSP’s chief development officer. Board president Ken Hedrick added that 35 volunteers have already logged more than 11,000 service hours, but the group needs 25 more volunteer drivers and four board members to keep up with requests.
Why the rides matter
The Twentynine Palms installation, often referred to as the Marine Corps’ largest base – sits in the High Desert far from major transit hubs, making airport transfers costly and time-consuming for junior service members traveling on leave. 29-PSP focuses on trips to the USO centers at Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) and Ontario International Airport (ONT), where Marines commonly begin or end their journeys.
The organization estimates typical one-way travel times of roughly 90 minutes between PSP and the base and about 3½ hours between ONT and the base – durations that can make commercial options impractical for last-minute leave. 29-PSP emphasizes that its drivers are volunteers (many of whom are retired military personnel), that rides are free, and that donations to the nonprofit, not to the drivers, help fund operations.
Recognized by the Marine Corps, anchored by the USO
The Marine Corps’ official information pages for newcomers point Marines to 29-PSP for advance, no-cost transportation to and from PSP, underscoring the group’s growing role in the local support network. The nonprofit asks that travelers request rides at least 48 hours in advance.
At the airports, USO lounges provide a familiar waypoint. Palm Springs’ USO primarily serves Marines traveling to and from Twentynine Palms (roughly 60 miles away), while the Ontario USO center operates daily and is reachable via a shuttle from passenger terminals.
How they operate, and how to help
29-PSP says volunteer drivers run between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily (except some holidays). Because demand has increased—and because summer travel stretched the small team—the group now requires requests two days in advance, with confirmations sent 24 hours before departure. The nonprofit also encourages travelers to use PSP when possible due to limited volunteer coverage at ONT.
Organizers invite community members to meet the team and learn more about recent milestones—374 rides this summer, 11 new volunteers, eight media mentions, and seven outreach events—at the Oct. 24 fundraiser. RSVPs are available at 29-psp.org/rsvp. “We’re making a difference together for those serving to protect our freedom and country,” the group said.
