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DAV Van Ready To Roll For Area's Veterans

Tribune photo by JOHN CEBALLOS

Thanks to the efforts of many people in the community, the Sun City Center-based Chapter 110 of the Disabled American Veterans were able to acquire a new van for their transportation service, which debuts Aug. 4. From left are, Past Commander Al Edwards, Lynn Jensen, Daniel Besser, Senior Vice Commander Bill McCracken, treasurer Dick Snyder, and chaplain Everett Michaels.

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By JOHN CEBALLOS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 6, 2008

SUN CITY CENTER - When the Disabled American Veterans' new van hit the streets of south Hillsborough this month, it was the culmination of a project that was nearly a decade in the making.

The Sun City Center-based Chapter 110 of the DAV will transport all veterans who have access to the Department of Veterans Affairs' system from Sun City Center and South Shore to the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital in Tampa and back.

The van service made its debut Monday.

"About 10 years ago, our chapter of the DAV started raising money for a van," said Dick Snyder, treasurer. "We finally have it down here, and I think it's really going to do a lot of good."

The new van was provided through an agreement the DAV Transportation Network has with the Ford motor company.

Snyder said the chapter paid about $22,000 for the van, with money also being contributed by the Colorado Trust of the DAV National Service Foundation - formerly known as the Columbia Trust - which ensures that services are evenly distributed to veterans across the country.

Snyder and fellow chapter member Dave O'Donnell flew to Cincinnati and picked up the van on June 23 before driving it back to Florida.

The vehicle is housed at Fire Station No. 28, off of State Road 674. It can carry a maximum of 11 passengers and will be operated by volunteer drivers.

Reservations must be made a week in advance and, if the number of passengers exceeds capacity for one day, the first 11 passengers will ride on that day while the others will be notified that they have to reschedule.

The service is available on weekdays, but Snyder said the chapter is open to expansion.

"Depending on how many drivers we can get, we're considering extending it to include Saturdays," Snyder said. "We might also consider other changes to our hours or pickup points depending on how the first few weeks go."

To volunteer to be a driver, call (813) 634-4489. To make a reservation, call (813) 642-0302.

PICKUP TIMES AND POINTS

•6:45 a.m., bus station on North Pebble Beach Road, Sun City Center, next to lawn bowling courts.

•6:55 a.m., Bealls, main entrance, 3846 State Road 674, Ruskin.

•7:05 a.m., Ruskin post office, parking lot, 24 Thriftway Plaza.

•7:20 a.m., Wal-Mart, main entrance, 9205 Gibsonton Drive, Gibsonton.

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 865-1555 or jceballos@tampatrib.com.

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