Volunteer Drivers Needed to Transport Veterans

by Contributor | May 14, 2008 4:50 pm

Submitted article

The Disabled American Veterans Transportation Network is the only way many veterans get to their Veterans Affairs medical facilities for needed treatment. The veterans who use this service are men and women who answered our country’s call in times of war. Many lost limbs, sight, hearing, or good health and many live a great distance from a VA hospital.

For example, the Disabled American Veterans regional Hospital in Syracuse services an 18-county region. The hospital uses the van network to provide services to the residents it services from St. Lawrence County all the way down to Onondaga County. The hospital is in particular need of van drivers to drive veterans to and from medical appointments. In Oswego County, there are currently only four volunteers to drive veterans who can’t drive themselves to doctors’ appointments. Though new volunteers have signed up to help in recent months, more volunteers are needed in Onondaga County as well to handle the demand for rides. With the price of gas on the rise in recent months, the need for volunteers has become more pronounced.

Hospital Service Coordinator at the Disabled American Veterans office in Syracuse Frank Caputo says volunteers are disappearing. Many have retired or their own health problems prevent them from continuing. Others can’t afford the extra gas money to drive themselves to the vans.

Van drivers are vital to many veterans. With fixed incomes, the cost of transportation to a VA hospital is just too high. My office recently helped purchase a van for Oswego County veterans and secured $19,500 for the van purchase. Across the nation, more than 196 hospital service coordinators operate more than 180 active programs at VA hospitals and outpatient clinics. These coordinators manage a corps of nearly 5,000 volunteer drivers whom provide transportation for veterans needing this service. Additionally DAV Departments and Chapters purchase and donate most of the vans to the VA medical facilities for use in the Transportation Network.

Since January, van drivers in Oswego County transported 350 veterans to appointments. While some are repeat passengers, van services were still needed on a daily basis. Since the beginning of the year, volunteers have clocked 11,200 miles.

All DAV van drivers are volunteers and do not receive payment for the services they provide. They also must pass a physical exam, be tested for tuberculosis and go through a background check. Also van drivers cannot have a past DUI or DWI. Recruitment orientation is held on Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. at the VA Hospital in Syracuse.

To volunteer to become a van driver, call Volunteer Coordinator Frank Caputo at 425-6750. If you or someone you know needs transportation, call the above number as well. You do not need to be disabled to ride in the van; veterans qualify for the program if they are unable to drive or make it to their appointments on their own.

If you have any questions or comments on this or any other state issue, or if you would like to be added to my mailing list or receive my newsletter, please contact my office. My office can be reached by mail at 200 North Second Street, Fulton, New York 13069, by e-mail at [email protected] or by calling (315) 598-5185.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/news/fulton/volunteer-drivers-needed-to-transport-veterans/

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