Many veterans in the region, like Muriel Leyfert, are dependent on the Disabled American Veterans Transportation Network in St. Louis to make it to their doctor's appointments. The 81-year-old said if she didn鈥檛 have access to the DAV, she鈥檇 have to rely on friends or Uber, which is a $60 expense for her.
鈥淚鈥檝e been with the DAV for a long time,鈥� Leyfert said. 鈥淎nd if it wasn鈥檛 for that I really would be in trouble. There is no way I would be able to drive. I have bad vision, and I鈥檓 also 81 years old. So it鈥檚 best that I don鈥檛 be out on the road.鈥�
The nonprofit has served 5,361 veterans like Leyfert through 11 different routes including St. Louis and St. Louis County, St. Charles and the Metro East.
However, the pandemic has made it harder to attract and keep drivers for the free transportation service.
Joseph Braun, the DAV Hospital Service coordinator-John Cochran Division, said with that kind of demand, the nonprofit needs more drivers. Many of its volunteer drivers are elderly and are concerned about contracting COVID-19. As a result, some of the drivers have opted out.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not going to beat them down and make them feel like they鈥檙e two inches tall, because they鈥檙e doing it,鈥� Braun said. 鈥淲e understand. This is a pandemic. Their health is No. 1. It ain鈥檛 doing no good if you鈥檙e not healthy in order to transport other veterans if your own personal health is not within good standing.鈥�
Braun said a large majority of the requests for their services are in north St. Louis and St. Louis County. Right now, the route only has two drivers.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a need for transportation for veterans, but unfortunately the resource to transport those veterans to appointments isn鈥檛 there,鈥� he said.
That鈥檚 why there's an effort to get younger drivers. Currently, the DAV Transportation Network has 63 volunteer drivers and coordinators. Braun said they鈥檒l need at least 100 to be able to properly meet the needs of all the communities they serve. As it stands, some routes only have drivers available once or twice a week.
And the pandemic is making it harder to attract more drivers.
Willie Riddle, a Marine Corps veteran, is one of the drivers on that north city and county route. He said the DAV has put safety precautions in place to protect drivers and the veterans including PPE, masks, sanitation supplies and a partition between the front and back seats. He said he feels safe.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 do any face-to-face contact,鈥� Riddle said. 鈥淚 have plenty of PPE equipment, and I鈥檓 very conscious of what I touch and who touches it after they are in and out.鈥�
To help ease that stress on the drivers, coordinators like Braun ask veterans while they鈥檙e setting up their appointments and transportation needs if they鈥檙e experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. That information is then verified again before the driver picks them up.
鈥淏ecause the way this pandemic is going, you could be fine one day, the next day you could have it full blown,鈥� Braun said.
Despite the risk, Riddle said the job is worth it. He said he鈥檚 happy to help serve fellow veterans.
鈥淭hose veterans, they鈥檝e fought for our freedom and they served our nation,鈥� Riddle said. 鈥淎nd now it鈥檚 our time to serve them.鈥�
Braun said those interested in volunteering are encouraged to reach out to him directly at 314-289-6443, option 2.
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