Help Augusta veterans by becoming a volunteer driver for VA

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta area is home to over 66,000 veterans, and for some, making it to doctors’ appointments could be more of a task than a simple visit.

Since 1987, Disabled American Veterans departments and chapters have donated 3,763 vehicles and Ford Motor Company has donated 264 vehicles to help volunteers get to their appointments.

Retired Marine veteran Ric Morrow knows all too well how important the program is.

After retiring from serving our country, he continued his service by helping veterans as a volunteer driver for Disabled American Veterans medical transport service at VA Augusta.

He says he’s been doing it for 11 years.

“I love doing it. It gives me the opportunity to pay it forward to other veterans,” he said.

It’s a service between 800 to 1,000 veterans depend on every year to get to and from their healthcare appointments at the VA.

“There’s so many folks that just don’t have their own transportation so they don’t have the opportunity to take advantage of the medical care that they have without having to pay for their own transportation to get to and from appointments,” said Morrow.

Right now, they’re working with only 11 volunteers, and they say they need your help.

Hospital Service Coordinator at VA Augusta, Emma Brown, said: “The need is great. We need drivers badly. Please come and join DAV transportation because what you get at the end, it’s amazing. You get a family.”

Your service is in exchange for those who served our country.

Morrow said: “It’s fulfilling for me. It’s just that I’m actually doing and I’m paying it forward to other veterans.”

You can pay it forward too.

To sign up, call Brown at (706) 733-0188, extension 27256.

Volunteer drivers have to have a valid driver’s license, a good driving record, pass a physical exam, have the ability to conduct simple pre-operation vehicle checks and attend a defensive driver training course provided by VA Augusta.

Drivers get free breakfast and lunch meal tickets during their time volunteering.

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