Legion in Medina donates towards van for veterans’ medical transportation

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Presenting a $2,000 check from the American Legion Auxiliary to the Joint Veterans’ Council toward a new van are, from left, Auxiliary members Valerie Wells, Robin Boyle and Judy Overholt, Joint Veterans’ Council president Dave Kusmierczak, Joint Veterans’ Council secretary Nancy Traxler, van service coordinator Phyllis Schrader, American Legion Auxiliary president Cathy Fox and Post member Carol Callina and Commander Jim Wells.

MEDINA – The Orleans County Joint Veterans Council received two generous donations Friday toward the purchase of another van for the Veterans’ Van Service.

The van service has six vans, one of which is currently out of service for much-needed repairs, and needs to replace several more, according to Phyllis Schrader, who coordinates the van service for Orleans County veterans.

The donations were from the Butts-Clark American Legion Auxiliary, who presented a check for $2,000 to Nancy Traxler, secretary of the Joint Veterans Council, which operates the van service, and a $1,000 check from the Butts-Clark American Legion Post.

“This is pretty fantastic,” Traxler said. “Our drivers work so hard to make sure the veterans get to their appointments. Most of our veterans can’t drive any more. We always need donations and we always need more volunteer drivers, as well as volunteers in the office. You can work one day a week or two hours a week – whatever you can do will be helpful.”

“We are not looking to purchase a new van,” Schrader said. “But even used ones are expensive. The last one we bought in good condition with low mileage was $26,000.”

The Orleans County Joint Veterans’ Council received donations toward a new van Friday at the Butts-Clark American Legion Post. Shown here, Dave Kusmierczak, chaplain of the American Legion and Jim Wells, right, Legion commander, present a $1,000 check to Nancy Traxler, Veterans’ Service agent and secretary of the Joint Veterans’ Council and Phyllis Schrader, coordinator of the van service.

Schrader said they are still about $10,000 short of having enough money for another van.

She said, in reality, they need to replace more than one. Two of those in service were purchased in 2010 and one has 120,000 miles on it and the other more than 100,000. All are rusted. There is rarely a day when they don’t have a trip to Buffalo, Rochester or Batavia for a veteran’s medical appointment, and it is not uncommon to have two or three trips in one day.

Donations and more volunteers are welcome. Volunteers are not only needed as drivers, but to help with tasks in the office, such as filing or making calls to confirm appointments. Donations may be made by sending a check to Orleans County Joint Veterans Council, 13996 Route 31 West, Albion, 14411.