SVEC Contributes to New Van for DAV
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Mary Roberson with a few
of the items the DAV auxiliary members have made for disabled veterans. |
The SVECares program recently granted the Bledsoe-Sequatchie Chapter 110, Disabled American Veteran’s $1000 toward the purchase of a new van for transporting disabled veterans to and from the Veteran’s Administration Medical Centers in Murfreesboro and Nashville.
The chapter’s current Patient Transportation Program ended in February when a truck crossed three lanes of traffic and a median and crashed into the van which had been used by the chapter for 12 years.
With the loss of their van the group decided to pursue purchasing a new van through the national organization.
Each year the DAV National Headquartered orders vans from the Ford Motor Company who sells them to them at half price. The National DAV then takes applications from local chapters that are in need of vans. The local chapter must come up with at least half of that price. The greater the local support, the more likely the chapter is to be funded.
“We raised enough to meet our portion in just three weeks,” said Edward Roberson, treasurer and past president of the local chapter. “People in this area are very supportive of our veterans. When we were raising money for the World War II Memorial in Nashville we raised over $13,000.”
“We turned our application in, but were too late for this year’s distribution so we have the money we raised in a restricted fund in the bank and we have our application at the top of the list for next April’s distribution.
“We don’t mean to go without a transportation program though. With no taxi, bus, train or other means of public transportation, our DAV van has been the only way for most of our veterans to travel to a Veterans medical facility. We will get a temporary van with the insurance settlement from our old van to get us through until next year. If we get the one we want, it is already in the program and therefore meets all the requirements and is already covered by insurance,” Roberson stated.
“We decided to go through the National DAV this time instead of just buying our own van because when it comes through the National Headquarters they will take care of the insurance, fuel and maintenance costs which allows our local chapter to use those funds for other projects,” he continued.
“The transportation program is not our only service. We are here to meet all kinds of needs for disabled veterans. If they are in need of food, clothing, utility bills, medical attention or are the victim of a natural disaster such as a fire, flood, or tornado, we are here to help them get what they need.”
“We also assist with military funerals and with the flags that line the downtown streets on Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day and the 4th of July.”
“There are 85 members in our chapter and we also have a very active Auxiliary made up of the wives of our members, Roberson continued.
Roberson’s wife Mary is the Commander of the local DAV Auxiliary. She explained that since the nearest VA hospital or nursing home is over 2 hours away it is very difficult for their members to do volunteer work in the facilities, so they have concentrated on providing support items. “We started out just making lap quilts for the veterans to use on their beds or in their wheelchairs but after talking with the nurses and physical therapists, we now make a variety of useful items,” Mrs. Roberson explained.
These include wheelchair pads, various sizes and designs of bags to hang on the side of a walker or wheelchair to carry the patient’s personal belongings and physical therapy aprons which include buttons, zippers and buckles for use in relearning small muscle skills needed for independent living after a stroke or other injury has impaired these skills.
The groups conduct various local fund raisers to carry out these local services and rely greatly on public support and volunteers. “Our greatest need is for volunteers to drive our vans,” said Clyde Thompson, the new chapter commander and the current DAV Transportation coordinator. “You don’t have to be a veteran to drive, you just need to have a valid drivers license, a good driving record and a desire to help others,” Roberson added. “None of the drivers are compensated for their time, they give their time because they believe in the program and support our disabled veterans.”