Help veterans: New vet van needs drivers
Published 12:00 pm Wednesday, April 24, 2002
Through the dedication of volunteers and individual donors who are concerned for the welfare of veterans; your work has paid off. We now have gone from a six passenger van to a 15 passenger van to transport veterans to and from the VA Medical Center.
Transportation services started on Sept. 14, 1998, and continue to operate as scheduled. We have pick up points at the Seaplane Base, Oak Harbor Safeway parking lot, Anacortes park-n-ride, Burlington (COSTCO area) park-n-ride, Arlington, Marysville and Everett.
Approximate pick-up times will be given when scheduling your ride. We must leave the VA Hospital between 1:30 and 2 p.m. at the latest so veterans are requested to arrange their appointments between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. This will allow adequate time for the van to reach Seattle in time for the first appointment and return back to Whidbey at a reasonable time in the afternoon.
To schedule a ride on the van it will be necessary to call, or contact in person, the DAV office at 257-4801, 72 hours prior to your scheduled appointment. If you have an appointment letter from the VA, we request you bring it with you for confirmation. Appointments have to be confirmed. The van is capable of carrying 12 passengers comfortably so please confirm your appointment as early as possible. Regretfully we cannot transport wheelchair bound patients.
To keep this wonderful service operating, we need volunteers to drive the van. Many people have already given their valuable contribution as a van driver and we greatly appreciate their time. If you would be interested in volunteering, we request you come to the DAV office in Building 13 on the Seaplane Base. You don’t have to be a veteran, just one who cares about veterans. The necessary paperwork for submission to the VA takes approximately 45 minutes to complete. In addition you will need to provide a copy of your own personal insurance card, as proof of being insured, and a copy of your driver’s license.
Please take a moment to consider volunteering for us as a van driver, don’t let our hard work go unappreciated. This service is a valuable asset to our veterans who have given up so much for our country. Let us show them that we appreciate their service to this country by volunteering as a driver. We will appreciate any time you can spare.
Our most heartfelt thanks to all who have volunteered their time and money to make this much needed service available to our veterans.
Dorothy J. Michel, Adjutant
Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 47
Oak Harbor
