Volunteer drivers help veterans get where they need to go
Megan Strickland
Disabled American Veterans needs volunteers to drive this van.
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
News from Lake County Disabled American Veterans
LAKE COUNTY — As the mile markers pass by on roads across the state, volunteer drivers in Lake County have been doing their part to help out local veterans in Western Montana. The number of volunteers has started to dwindle down, but the remaining drivers have continued to carry the torch and hope to recruit new volunteers to help with their passion.
Marrion Clairmont, the local coordinator, explained they are in need of more volunteer drivers, as their number has dropped from about a dozen to half a dozen this last year. She said that drivers get a meal card and credit cards for gas and vehicle expenses. The more volunteers that are available, the less time is needed per volunteer
You may have noticed the white vans with the red, white and blue flag and the new green and gray vans with the DAV information on the road. Some of the drivers are veterans, others are not, but they have one thing in common: they all want to help out those who have served their country through the Disabled American Veterans organization. They provide vans and drivers that help carry veterans to locations for doctor appointments in Missoula, Kalispell and Fort Harrison in Helena.
The veterans they provide this service to are too old or ill to drive, are unable to drive, or can’t afford a vehicle and the costs to operate it. The Ronan DAV organization carried 727 passengers a total of 55,641 miles to doctor and medical appointments in 2014. These numbers stress the importance of this invaluable service to the veterans in our community.
While there isn’t any monetary incentive to volunteer, those volunteering said the reward was in knowing they helped someone who had served our country. The drivers track the hours and miles they log as volunteers and they collect pins and badges and attend an awards banquet each year in their honor.
Volunteer drivers Richard Jessen, Jack Collins, Robert Shaw, Gene DeCarlo, Doug Lindon, Jack Fay, Ron Beams and Larry Kjorvestad donated 2,466 hours of their time in 2014 for driving these veterans.
The local DAV (Lake County) and other DAV units throughout the state gather their own funds from contributions by local individuals and businesses to purchase the new vans. Ford Motors Company and the national DAV organization also contribute to the purchase price and maintenance of the vans. The Ronan DAV collected enough contributions to purchase a new van in 2013 and have logged close to 40,000 miles on it already. They also have a 14-year-old van with about 250,000 miles on it that is going to need replacement in the near future. We urge anyone wishing to make a tax deductible contribution to the Ronan DAV organization to donate funds this year. Checks made to the Ronan DAV can be left at the Ronan VFW Post 5652 in care of Marrion Clairmont.
For more information, to make an appointment for a ride, or to volunteer, please contact Lake County Coordinator Marrion Clairmont at (406) 207-1496. She can be located at the Ronan VFW Post 5652 headquarters most days of the week. You may also get information from the current volunteer drivers.
