Since November and December are months associated with giving, I would like to spotlight a few of the worthy volunteers who regularly give of their time to aid veterans. They give of their time on a weekly basis to chauffeur veterans to the Veterans Administration Medical Center in San Diego.
Mary Helen Dollente, of Holtville, the only female driver in the group, likes doing this to honor her father, Jose Velasco, a member of the 1st Filipino Regiment, and her uncles, Pete Velasco and Pat Ortiz, who served in World War II in intelligence.
“We just have a great time being together,” Helen said. “Some have found out they were in the same battles. They talk about their experiences in the war, and those they had at the VA Hospital. … It’s heartbreaking that they aren’t getting their benefits fast enough, and their benefits are being cut back again.”
Wind can be a hindrance on these trips, but only once did Helen have to turn around because of the weather when a freak snowstorm hit the mountains.
Raul Mazon, also of Holtville, has been a driver for three years. His regular day is Thursday, and he fills in other times when one of the drivers can’t make it. The 10-passenger van usually carries seven or eight veterans each trip. This is the first time in many years that they have a driver for every day of the week.
“I am thrilled to do this, to listen to their struggles, many of them, healthwise,” Raul said. “Some of the veterans come from Bombay Beach or Niland, and it is a long bus ride for them just to get to Imperial. … Often their appointments are canceled or postponed, or a prosthesis that should have been ready isn’t and they weren’t notified.”
Eldred Burk, of Imperial, has been at this for eight years. When asked what keeps him going, he replied, “My love of people. … While working in retail sales I never had the time to join a service club.
“When I retired, my son told me I would be dead in five years because I didn’t have any hobbies,” he said.
Shortly after that conversation he read a story in this newspaper about the need for drivers. Within a month he was driving vets to San Diego.
Jerry DeMorst, of Brawley, started thinking about volunteering when he was set to retire from the Sheriff’s Office. A story in the paper mentioning the need for drivers motivated him.
“It has given me a lot of respect for the older vets from WWII, Korea, and Vietnam,” Jerry said. “It is nice to get to know each of them and get their stories on life.”
Jerry also does mentoring and tutoring for the county library.
Jesse Obeso, of Imperial, is also a regular driver.
Fuzzy Furrer, of Imperial, is now a driver in training for the trips to the hospital. A Navy veteran, he learned about the need of drivers when he tried to get a ride to the VA for a shingles shot. The day he tried to go they didn’t have a driver for the van.
“Some of these veterans wait three or four weeks for their appointments to be rescheduled, and some wait months,” he said.
“If we get a pool of drivers we won’t have any of the veterans miss an appointment,” Furrer said.
Drivers need to have a Class C driver’s license to participate. The van is kept at the Imperial Airport parking lot. It leaves there at 7 a.m. The next stop is at Rite Aid in El Centro. The rest of the stops are as needed at Seeley, Ocotillo, Boulevard, Golden Acorn, for a rest stop, and Guatay. The drivers get a $6 food voucher for lunch. They try to leave the hospital by 2 p.m. in order to miss the heavy traffic. It is usually a 10-hour day for the drivers, and longer for the vets living in the Northend of Imperial County.
If interested in becoming a driver call Carolyn Jackson, VA transportation coordinator, at 858-552-7470.
Happy Thanksgiving to all our readers!
To comment on this story click here to be directed to Facebook.
