BY JULIE BENAMATI
After 13 years and more than 140,000 miles, volunteer van driver Michael Rector of Johnstown is calling it quits.
Disabled American Veterans volunteers such as Rector, a 65-year-old former Marine, drive sick and disabled veterans to and from Veterans Administration medical facilities for treatment.
Rector transports Johnstown veterans from local pickup points to the Veterans Hospital in Altoona, to clinic appointments in Johnstown and to a Pittsburgh shuttle drop-off point in Ebensburg.
“I’ll be 66 in February, and it’s getting to be more than what I can handle,” Rector said.
He and fellow volunteer driver William Reap are stepping down by March. The only two volunteer drivers in the Johnstown area, they are hoping others will step up to take their places.
Without the two men, local veterans could miss needed appointments, or perhaps be forced to skimp on food or other necessities to pay for transportation.
Lisa Hart is a DAV service coordinator based at the VA Hospital in Altoona. While the hospital provides office space for Hart and the DAV service, the hospital does not fund the program.
Hart said more than 100 Johnstown veterans utilize the van service every month.
According to its Web site, the DAV stepped in to meet the need for veterans’ transportation when the federal government terminated its program that helped veterans pay for transportation to VA medical facilities.
Most veterans utilize the service because they can no longer drive themselves or cannot afford it.
“Most of the guys I drive (use the service) due to cost,” Rector said. “We’re not supposed to take people who can drive or who have vehicles. But we take anyone who is a veteran.”
Hart said she “desperately” needs more volunteer drivers.
“I have two drivers for Johnstown who have been driving for more than 13 years, and they are at the point where they can’t do it anymore,” Hart said. “They’ve been driving almost every day of the week (for no pay). Now, it’s a matter of them saying, ‘Hey, we’ve done this long enough.’ ”
‘Getting to be long days’
Rector said he was drawn to the volunteer post out of boredom.
“I can’t work because I have a problem with my back, and I’ve had a heart attack,” Rector said. “I wanted something to do other than sitting around the house doing nothing. I drive almost every day, and I enjoy it a lot.”
Reap, who is retired from Bethlehem Steel and lives in Ferndale, said he had planned to drive for the Red Cross with a friend of his, but at the time, the Red Cross was on strike, and he didn’t want to be involved.
“I saw an advertisement looking for volunteers for DAV, so decided to do it,” Reap said. “At first, it was great. But now, it’s getting to be long days.
“I’m getting older, and it’s getting bad for me, especially in the winter,” Reap added.
Reap admitted it is difficult for others to understand why he and Rector have volunteered for so long, for no money at all. At best, the men receive a free lunch when they drive, and an occasional appreciation pin, shirt or jacket.
“When you see some of these veterans, you’d understand why (we volunteer),” Reap said. “These veterans live in apartments and have no friends or family and very little money.”
He and Rector often give the veterans they transport a few dollars for coffee while they’re waiting at the VA hospital.
“These veterans served our country,” Rector said. “They don’t have a lot.”
‘Like taxi drivers’
Not much is required to become a volunteer, Hart said. Drivers must pass a medical and FBI background check – and have a clean driving record. Folks with drunken driving and questionable incidents on their history need not apply.
Hart said no medical training is required or necessary, because all riders must be able to ambulate on their own.
“Our drivers are like taxi drivers,” Hart explained. “This is not to be used as an emergency medical service. Our vans don’t have wheelchair access, either.”
The vans are donated by the DAV, and are stored at undisclosed locations. Recently, the Johnstown-based van was broken into, and the cell phone used inside was stolen.
Hart said she hopes she snags some Johnstown volunteers before Rector and Reap turn in their keys for good.
“We will have to cut off services in Johnstown if we can’t find people,” Hart said. “It will resume as soon as we get new volunteers.”
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer driver can call Hart at 940-7821.
