A group that helps disabled veterans says it needs more volunteers to transport ex-military personnel to medical appointments locally and as far away as Albuquerque.
The COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on the number of volunteer drivers, and some of the younger volunteers don’t have enough time to commit to transportation services, said Fred Riedinger, Coast Guard veteran and former transportation service volunteer.
“We maintain membership, but our younger members, they have to work,” he said. “And of course, some work multiple jobs. So they have limited time available to volunteer.”
Rockling Scott, van coordinator for Disabled American Veterans Chapter 48 Silver San Juan, said it’s an arduous process to become a volunteer driver.
Applicants must receive a physical exam from the Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center in Albuquerque. The DAV offers transportation and lodging for volunteers receiving physicals in Albuquerque, but the process can be time-consuming for those who have jobs or families.
It can also be a struggle for older volunteers who may not be able to pass the physical requirements.
“Several of our van drivers have also passed away or they aged out to medical issues,” Scott said. “They’re unable to be van drivers anymore, because you have to pass a yearly physical.”
Disabled American Veterans have partnered for years with the Veterans of Foreign Wars to ensure veterans can access medical services. The volunteers take veterans to specialized doctors’ appointments in Durango, Farmington, Albuquerque and elsewhere.
Local veterans group have offered the volunteer transportation service for about 20 years. It started in 2002 with one truck to take veterans to appointments. Now, the program has a van and a truck.
Before the pandemic, the service had up to 20 volunteers. It now has only two.
Scott said the decline in the number of volunteers is a result of health issues involving older volunteers and even death.
Those who rely on the service include veterans who are disabled, have mental disabilities or live by themselves and need a driver. Drivers can be anyone with a clean driving and criminal record.
The service launched as a means to get veterans to their doctor’s appointments in Albuquerque, because at the time, that was the only location that offered an array of medical services for veterans.
About that time, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs indicated it planned to locate an outpatient clinic in Durango. After some local activism and a little help from former U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a clinic opened in 2002 in Durango, which cut down on the number of trips needed for veteran medical services. The clinic has moved three times since first locating in Durango.
In addition to transportation services, the DAV has a Veterans Trust Fund grant that provides funding to help veterans with their living situation, including paying mortgages, paying bills or providing resources like propane.
Cost of living is difficult for many veterans, Riedinger said, but veterans who have a disability are especially prone to cost-of-living hardships because they struggle with a steady income as a result of their disability.
For retired Navy veteran Luciano Davalos, the services provided by the DAV and VFW have been a huge help.
In one instance, Davalos’ walker broke and he was unable to get up. He was able to make his way to a phone and call the VFW. A VFW volunteer went to his home and provided him with a new walker in less than an hour.
Riedinger has also been helping Davalos with finding a mobility scooter.
tbrown@durangoherald.com
