By Steve Sharp
steves@wdtimes.com
JEFFERSON — It almost goes without saying Jefferson County’s veterans have given much to the country — and the local community — during their military service. Now they are finding they need the community to step up and help them.
Jefferson County Veterans Service Officer Yvonne Duesterhoeft told the Daily times she is having a terrible time these days finding drivers willing to take local veterans to their medical appointments at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Madison.
“Right now the volunteer roster is down to four drivers for a variety of reasons,” Duesterhoeft said. “I’m hoping to build the roster up to 20 drivers to lessen the load on everyone.”
Duesterhoeft said the situation has gotten so bad Jefferson County’s veterans are missing their appointments frequently due to the lack of volunteer drivers.
The Jefferson County Veterans Service Office began leasing a van directly from the VA Hospital in Madison and launched its veterans van shuttle service on July 6, 2009.
“This was great news for veterans who receive their care at the VA Hospital in Madison,” Duesterhoeft said.
The service is used by home-bound veterans and by any veterans who wish to save on gas by ride-sharing to the hospital in the state capital.
Volunteer drivers pick veterans up at their homes, take them to the hospital and return them to their residences at no charge. Volunteer drivers may set the parameters for when they are available to drive.
“Some drivers prefer to drive the same day each week and some are only available occasionally,” Duesterhoeft said. “Some drivers only drive certain months of the year because they travel, or go south for the winter or north for the summer. The bottom line is that all volunteers are appreciated for any time they have to give.”
As 2018 began, Duesterhoeft penned an appeal to the Jefferson County community to help with the deteriorating situation.
“I am writing to ask for your assistance in recruiting volunteer drivers for the Jefferson County veterans transport van,” she wrote. “In effect, this letter is a call to service for any volunteer who wishes to give back to those who have given themselves in service to our country. Perhaps you, or someone you know, might have time to give? I would also add that volunteer opportunities like this are an excellent way to network for a person seeking employment, or looking for work experience to add to their resume.”
By signing up to be a volunteer driver Duesterhoeft said a person can ensure no veteran goes without health care simply because they cannot get to a VA hospital or clinic.
“This service is provided to veterans at no cost to them. Many veterans of all ages living in Jefferson County are eligible for health care provided at VA hospitals and clinics in the area, however, a growing number of veterans, due to ill health or financial difficulty, are not able to get to VA facilities that are located too far from their homes,” she wrote. “For this reason, Jefferson County forged a unique partnership with the VA hospital in Madison to secure a federally leased vehicle. The federal VA provides the vehicle and fuel, but we must provide the people-power to drive the van.”
Duesterhoeft reiterated her goal is to have at least 20 volunteer drivers who rotate shifts.
“This is so that no one would have to drive more than one day per month,” she said. “Some drivers like to volunteer on a more regular basis — a certain day of the week, for example — but we are more than willing to accommodate any amount of time that a person might have to offer.”
There are no special skills required to be a driver of the veterans, but drivers must:
— Possess a compassionate heart.
— Be at least 18 years old.
— Have a clean driving record, with no operating while intoxicated citations in the last 10 years.
— Fill out an application and send it to the community relations office at the VA Hospital in Madison through the Jefferson County Veterans Service Office.
— Pass a required physical assessment, background check/fingerprint process and TB screening.
— Complete an orientation and go on a “ride-along” with an experienced driver.
Other necessities include being a reliable volunteer, having a strong desire to be dedicated to help others and be willing to wait at the hospital for several hours until all appointments are completed.
Those interested are asked to contact the Jefferson County Veterans Service Office at 920-674-7240 with questions about the program, or to volunteer.
Drivers need not be veterans, although Duesterhoeft and her local veterans service colleagues certainly welcome former service members who find time in their retirement years to get involved.
“No matter the era of the veterans they serve, be it World War II, Korean, Vietnam or the most current returnees, volunteer drivers get the satisfaction of knowing their time and effort is appreciated by veterans who range in age from 19 to 99,” Duesterhoeft said. “They served for you, now you can serve for them.”
Contributed photo
Shown above with the main entrance to the VA Hospital in Madison visible in the background are several volunteer veterans drivers from around the 15-county area served by the hospital. They are, clockwise, from left, Richard Brye, Middleton, VA Voluntary Services Hospital chairman and VFW volunteer representative; Bob Southworth, formerly of Fort Atkinson and now of Wausau who drives for Marathon County; Jerry Murray of Palmyra, driving for Jefferson County; Ken Beebe, Rockton, Ill., driving for Rock County; F.S. Tate, Rockford, Ill., serving Winnebago County; and Dave Carr, Pearl City, Ill., driving for Stephenson County, Ill.