Volunteer drivers encouraged to sign up
(Seguin) — Area veterans have a new set of wheels and that’s all thanks to the Guadalupe County Veterans Service Office.
Veterans Service Office Director Nancy Russell says after much anticipation, the group was able to welcome a new van that will help transport veterans to and from their VA appointments.
“We do have a van currently. It is small. It’s not wheelchair accessible. This new van has a high ceiling height and a low depth. It is ground level so that veterans can walk right into it. They don’t have to stoop and crawl into it. It has wheelchair lifts and we’ve been providing this service for years but now, we will have two vans and the option to accommodate a wheelchair,” said Russell.
Russell says the addition of this new van is a definite game changer as it now allows them to assist any veteran.
“We had people that we were not able to accommodate and some of our veterans as they aged and when they started, they didn’t need a wheelchair and then they did and we were not able to help them any longer,” said Russell.
The addition of a new van also means a bigger push for volunteer drivers.
Even before the arrival of this new van, Russell says the program has always struggled with recruiting volunteers.
“A lot of veterans wait for their VA appointments for months and it is really important to have a pool of volunteers because if one volunteer gets sick, we need someone else to step up or veterans will lose this opportunity to have this appointment that they have waited months to have and so it is just really really hard for them when they aren’t able to go. Sometimes, we have three or four people going in one day. It could be none or one but you can also bring your spouse along with you or caregiver because we do have space for additional people in this new van, said Russell.
The new van was unveiled to area veterans during Thursday’s Veterans Information Fair held at the Veterans Outreach Center, located at 205 E. Weinert St.
Those looking to volunteer as a driver are encouraged to contact Russell’s office at 830-303-4188 ext. 1249.
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- Felisa Ramirez, the service officer for the American Legion, gets a look at the new Veterans Service office van equipped with getting veterans to and from their medical appointments. On hand to help show off the van is VOC volunteer and new American Legion member John Falkenburg. The van was unveiled during Thursday’s information fair held at the Guadalupe County Veterans Service Office located at 205 E. Weinert St. Photos by Felisa Ramirez.
