Driver shortage hampers travel for veterans
Flathead and Mission Valley veterans are no longer able to make it to all of their scheduled out-of-town medical appointments because there’s a shortage of drivers to transport them.
Stan Rube, the local area coordinator for the Flathead Chapter of the Disabled American Veterans, said a number of trips to Helena and Missoula have been canceled in recent weeks due to a lack of available drivers.
Veterans rely on the transportation to see specialists for medical care.
Veterans must wait weeks or even months to get those appointments rescheduled, Rube said. Regularly scheduled trips on Wednesdays to Helena have been eliminated this month because of the driver shortage.
Many veterans no longer own vehicles and others are no longer able to drive the vehicles they do have, said Ret. Col. D. Richard “Doc” Clark, a past adjutant for the Montana DAV. This is especially true during the winter months, he added.
Since 1987, volunteer drivers working with the DAV have made sure all veterans were able to receive health care by taking them to their appointments, Clark said.
The Flathead chapter is looking for volunteer drivers to take Flathead and Mission Valley veterans to medical appointments in Kalispell, Missoula and Helena.
The Kalispell Veterans Affairs clinic has expanded greatly both in size and staff, allowing for treatment of a greater number of veterans, Clark said. Many of the veterans seeing specialists in Kalispell are unable to drive.
Many days the DAV Volunteer Transportation Network in the Flathead and Mission valleys operates from three to five vehicles daily providing local transportation to appointments in the area. Two vehicles also operate in Ronan.
Last year the Flathead chapter purchased two new vehicles with financial assistance from Plum Creek Timber Co., the Kalispell and Whitefish VFW organizations, and one of the driver’s families. Matching money came from the Columbia Trust of the National Disabled American Veterans in Cold Springs, Ken.
“This year we have ordered one more vehicle to transport veterans in the valley and are actively raising funds to pay for it,” Clark said. “The vehicle being replaced has 250,000 miles on the odometer and is not safe to transport frail, elderly veterans for fear of breaking down in the cold winter weather.”
In 2013, Flathead Valley drivers logged 3,355 volunteer hours, hauling 1,294 veterans more than 52,928 miles.
Drivers do not need to be veterans and are not required to have commercial licenses. A physical examination and insurance are provided by Veterans Affairs along with background checks for new volunteers. Non-driver volunteers do not require physicals.
If you are interested in driving one day per week, assisting in service to veterans in the Flathead (including the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls) or just helping out occasionally should call Rube at 212-9162 or Clark at 982-3266.
Fundraising is underway for the new vehicle, which will cost $14,500. Individuals, groups and organizations or corporations are asked to consider tax-deductible donations. Gifts in excess of $1,000 are recognized by placing the donors’ names on the back windows of the vehicle they helped purchase.
Donations can be send to Flathead Chapter No. 4 Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 10606, Kalispell, MT 59901.