Mineral County receives DAV van
<p>Mineral County received a DAV van on Oct. 30. The van will enable disabled veterans to receive free transportation to hospitals and clincis.</p>
MINERAL COUNTY - Through a lot of hard work from area volunteers, Mineral County has finally received a DAV van.
Herman Berneking has been at the forefront for months trying to get volunteer drivers qualified to drive a van should one be delivered.
Finally, on October 30th local volunteers met with Lois Schmitt, Hospital Services Volunteer, and Ron T. Coleman, VTN Transportation Coordinator, of Helena, and were handed the keys to our own vehicle.
Mineral County now has seven volunteer drivers, and we are ready to start accepting DAV transportation appointments to Missoula, Helena, or wherever your appointment is scheduled.
Travel benefit cuts have left many vets with no way to get to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities for needed treatment. They’re men and women who answered our country’s call in times of war. Many lost limbs, sight, hearing, or good health.
They may live a great distance from a VA hospital, and because so many exist on small fixed incomes, they find that the cost of transportation to a VA hospital is just too high. They’re left with two choices. They could go without the treatment they need, or skimp on food or other necessities to pay for transportation.
Vets disabled in our nation’s service should never face such dire options. So DAV and Auxiliary volunteers respond, driving vets to and from VA hospitals and clinics. The DAV has also donated vans, where needed, to make the program work. Other grateful Americans are helping too. It’s all part of the DAV Transportation Network, administered by DAV Hospital Service Coordinators (HSCs) at the VA’s 172 medical centers.
To schedule your transportation please contact your Local Area Coordinator, Mary Jo Berry at 475-4711. Please give us at least 48-hour notice. We ask that you leave your name, phone number, date of your appointment, time of your appointment, where your appointment is, if you are traveling alone or with a caregiver, last four of your SS number, and we will return your call.
DAV Mineral County will be doing some fundraising in the near future to purchase our own van. This is made possible with matching money. Sanders County is in the process of raising funds and are over half way to reaching their goal.
For more information on how you can help contact Mary Jo at 475-4711.