Veterans who have trouble finding transportation to VA hospitals in Augusta and Dublin have an option now — a van will be leaving from a downtown Statesboro meeting point every Tuesday and Thursday, beginning next week, to take veterans to appointments at the hospitals.
Provided by the Veteran’s Administration, the van can carry six passengers. It will be driven by paid drivers, funded through donations for the project, but the Statesboro branch of the Georgia Department of Veteran Services is seeking volunteer drivers, said Jo Ann Dixon, manager of the department.
Local veteran Ray Hendrix, who was key in efforts to bring a veteran’s clinic to the Statesboro area, was also a main coordinator in the transportation project. While he was campaigning to get a veteran’s hospital for the area, someone at the Veteran’s Administration asked “Why don’t we furnish you a van .. until you get the clinic?” he said.
The Disabled Veteran’s Organization produced the vans, he said, and one came to Statesboro to help veterans who either have no way to drive, no one to take them or cannot afford gas to get to either the Dublin or Augusta veteran’s hospitals, he said.
A government credit card pays for gas and other maintenance for the van, and veterans get to ride for free.
“We have two drivers now,” Hendrix said,”But we need more.
Drivers must pass a physical from the VA in order to be hired, but Hendrix and others hope eligible drivers will step up to offer services for free. Donations from the Bulloch County Hospital Authority, Statesboro Rotary Club, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, City of Statesboro and other organizations, along with private donations, are funding the driver’s fees now, he said.
Veteran Terry Preslar handles the finances and issues checks to drivers when Dixon provides him with information, he said. The van will leave at 7:30 a.m. from Shoney’s on South Main Street, Dixon said. Veterans must call ahead for a seat, and must already have their appointments made for that day. The van will go to Augusta on Thursdays and Dublin on Tuesdays.
Usually, the van arrives back in Statesboro before dark, as patients are usually finished with appointments and ready to go by 3 p.m., she said.
The hospitals have agreed to work with veterans in changing or arranging appointments around their transportation options, making appointments on the days the van will be rolling, she said.
She stressed that veterans must already have appointments scheduled at the hospitals before seeking a ride. Appointments for the rides are all she handles — veterans must call their hospitals to make appointments for medical services.
There are about 15,000 veterans in the Statesboro area, so Dixon expects the van to be full on days it travels. Hendrix said if the project is successful and funding continues, the trips may be increased to more than twice weekly.
He also hoped a larger van to accommodate more passengers is in the future, should the demand for a seat to the hospitals be as great as he expects.
“This is a definite need here in Bulloch County,” Dixon said.
The van cannot handle wheel chairs, and patients who are dependent upon others will not be able to bring a spouse or friend along due to the limited seating, she said.
Hendrix said he hopes the funding continues so the program can remain active.
“We feel like we have enough (funds) to drive the van a year,” he said. “Outside of that, we’re going to have to beat the bushes.”
For more information or to secure a seat in the van for a ride to the Augusta or Dublin veteran’s hospital, dial (912) 871-1104.
Provided by the Veteran’s Administration, the van can carry six passengers. It will be driven by paid drivers, funded through donations for the project, but the Statesboro branch of the Georgia Department of Veteran Services is seeking volunteer drivers, said Jo Ann Dixon, manager of the department.
Local veteran Ray Hendrix, who was key in efforts to bring a veteran’s clinic to the Statesboro area, was also a main coordinator in the transportation project. While he was campaigning to get a veteran’s hospital for the area, someone at the Veteran’s Administration asked “Why don’t we furnish you a van .. until you get the clinic?” he said.
The Disabled Veteran’s Organization produced the vans, he said, and one came to Statesboro to help veterans who either have no way to drive, no one to take them or cannot afford gas to get to either the Dublin or Augusta veteran’s hospitals, he said.
A government credit card pays for gas and other maintenance for the van, and veterans get to ride for free.
“We have two drivers now,” Hendrix said,”But we need more.
Drivers must pass a physical from the VA in order to be hired, but Hendrix and others hope eligible drivers will step up to offer services for free. Donations from the Bulloch County Hospital Authority, Statesboro Rotary Club, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, City of Statesboro and other organizations, along with private donations, are funding the driver’s fees now, he said.
Veteran Terry Preslar handles the finances and issues checks to drivers when Dixon provides him with information, he said. The van will leave at 7:30 a.m. from Shoney’s on South Main Street, Dixon said. Veterans must call ahead for a seat, and must already have their appointments made for that day. The van will go to Augusta on Thursdays and Dublin on Tuesdays.
Usually, the van arrives back in Statesboro before dark, as patients are usually finished with appointments and ready to go by 3 p.m., she said.
The hospitals have agreed to work with veterans in changing or arranging appointments around their transportation options, making appointments on the days the van will be rolling, she said.
She stressed that veterans must already have appointments scheduled at the hospitals before seeking a ride. Appointments for the rides are all she handles — veterans must call their hospitals to make appointments for medical services.
There are about 15,000 veterans in the Statesboro area, so Dixon expects the van to be full on days it travels. Hendrix said if the project is successful and funding continues, the trips may be increased to more than twice weekly.
He also hoped a larger van to accommodate more passengers is in the future, should the demand for a seat to the hospitals be as great as he expects.
“This is a definite need here in Bulloch County,” Dixon said.
The van cannot handle wheel chairs, and patients who are dependent upon others will not be able to bring a spouse or friend along due to the limited seating, she said.
Hendrix said he hopes the funding continues so the program can remain active.
“We feel like we have enough (funds) to drive the van a year,” he said. “Outside of that, we’re going to have to beat the bushes.”
For more information or to secure a seat in the van for a ride to the Augusta or Dublin veteran’s hospital, dial (912) 871-1104.