American Legion in Lyndonville donates to veterans’ van service

Photo by Ginny Kropf: John Follman, left, treasurer of Lyndonville’s Houseman-Tanner American Legion Post, presents a check to David Kusmierczak, president of the Orleans County Joint Veterans’ Council, toward the purchase of their next van, while van service coordinator Phyllis Schrader looks on.

ALBION – As the Orleans County Joint Veterans’ Council gets ready to put a new van into service, donations are already being accepted for the next new one.

On Tuesday, the Houseman-Tanner American Legion Post in Lyndonville presented a check to David Kusmierczak, president of the Joint Veterans’ Council, toward the purchase of the much-needed van.

The check was presented by John Follman, treasurer of the Lyndonville Post, on behalf of post commander Steve Goodrich.

The van service, which provides free transportation for veterans to medical appointments, is coordinated by Phyllis Schrader, who said they are approved for five vans by the Buffalo Veterans’ Administration. The VA pays for all gas and repairs, but the local veterans’ agency must buy the vans.

Two of the five were ready to be replaced, with the last one, a 2010 with 109,000 miles, being out of service since last July.

All of the vans purchased are late-model and low-mileage, Schrader said.

The vans, driven by volunteers, will take veterans to medical appointments at any medical facility approved by the VA, mostly to Batavia, Buffalo, Rochester and Canandaigua.

Volunteer drivers are always needed, Schrader said.