Applications pour in from volunteer vets’ van drivers

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Steve McClure, Davison County veterans services officer, said response has been overwhelming following a call for volunteer drivers to take area veterans to appointments at the veteran’s hospital in Sioux Falls.

Applications flooded McClure’s office after an article in the Feb. 2 edition of The Daily Republic highlighted the driver shortage. At the time, McClure said he was down to three drivers. The volunteer drivers use a van that is part of a program sponsored by Disabled American Veterans and local veteran and community organizations.

After the article’s publication, McClure said he received 18 requests for driver applications. Applicants must undergo physicals and have good driving records to qualify as drivers. While not all applicants have met the requirements, McClure said nine drivers have been approved and more applications are being screened. He said the larger driver pool will make a difference.

“It will make things a lot easier for everybody,” he said. Veterans will be able to keep important medical appointments in Sioux Falls and McClure said it will greatly reduce the time he fills in behind the wheel.

“It will allow me to spend more time in the office helping other veterans,” he said. “It also means we won’t have to call on just a few volunteers to do all the driving.”

Volunteer driver applications are still welcome, he said. Call 605-995-8619 for more information.

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