Disabled American Veterans - 48 Silver San Juan

We use this program to provide assistance to Veterans in numerous ways. We pay mileage and motels for Veterans traveling to and from the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We maintain a small fleet of loaner wheelchairs, Do ADA adaptation to residences, but food and gas vouchers for Veterans, buy emergency prescriptions for traveling veterans, provide temporary lodging for traveling Veterans, pay for vehicle repairs for working Veterans and buy doctor order day passes to the local recreation center. We provide rent and utility assistance to homeless veterans and their families. It is for use in all areas of Southwest Colorado, but we focus on La Plata and Archuleta counties. We have selected individuals in place who identify homeless Veterans and we investigate and determine if there is a real need for assistance, and if so, provide checks to the landlords and utility companies. We raise funds for and procure a new Ford 12 passenger van every two to three years for the purpose of transporting Veterans to the Veterans Administration Medical Center located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a round trip of 450 miles, 3 days a week. We have an excellent cadre of 25 volunteer drivers and coordinators. We also provide transportation from the surrounding area to the local Veterans Administration Clinic in Durango and to hospitals and dialysis units in the area. We are required to raise $16,500 for these vans and the DAV National Transportation System provides matching funds to pay for the remainder of the van. The vans are presented to the Veterans Administration and they provide the insurance, maintenance and credit cards for gas, etc. We average around 70 to 80 thousand miles per year on the vans.