Disabled American Veterans transportation network in the Washington, D.C. area got a boost Wednesday with the donation of a 2021 Ford Explorer during a key ceremony at Koons Falls Church.
Wells Fargo and Jim Koons Automotive Group teamed up to provide the vehicle to DAV.
“This vehicle will allow us to carry out our mission and serve veterans in the Washington, D.C., area,” said Randy Reese, executive director of DAV’s Washington headquarters. “We are grateful for Wells Fargo’s dedication to the veteran community and appreciative for all they do for our organization.”
DAV operates a fleet of vehicles around the country to provide free transportation to VA medical facilities for injured and ill veterans. The vans are driven by volunteers, and the rides are coordinated by more than 155 Hospital Service Coordinators around the country.
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“Those veterans taking care of other veterans, we’re talking to the tune of 1.2 million hours donated every year, making sure injured and sick veterans can get to their appointments, because what’s the point of having a great health care system if you can’t get there to use it,” said Reese.
The new vehicle will connect the dots in that process, he continued.
“We’re talking about 20 million miles annually driven,” Reese said. “During the pandemic, a quarter of a million veterans were safely transported. It enriched their lives, made them healthier, and in some cases saved their lives.”
Since the program began in 1987, DAV departments and chapters have donated 3,558 vehicles and Ford Motor Co. has donated 239 vehicles at a cost of nearly $89 million.
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“This program is absolutely an essential part of DAV,” Reese said. “It’s what we do.”
To learn more about DAV transportation network, visit here.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.