This past summer, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 44 faced a crisis that threatened to pull its three transportation vans off the road – vans that transported county veterans for free to medical appointments at the Philadelphia and Wilmington U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities, as well as local clinics, doctors’ offices and outpatient services. Due to the loss of funding from a corporate donor, the DAV could no longer pay the annual $6,200 insurance bill for the vehicles. However, community members came together to raise funds to continue the DAV’s transportation service.
After hearing about the issue, Middle Township Committeeman Timothy Donohue started a Go-Fund-Me page to help the DAV raise the necessary funds. But contributions were far short of the goal… until one “miracle” donor chipped in with a $4,500 donation. His donation was accompanied by a post: “Let’s stand together to help these veterans, who selflessly stood on the front lines of our freedom and sacrificed to protect our American way of life.”
Other community contributions included $1,000 donated by American Legion Post 331 in Stone Harbor, and $2,000 donated by Cape Classics Motorcycle Club in Wildwood. On the same day Cape Classics Motorcycle Club made this donation, the club also presented the Wildwood Beach Patrol with two beach-accessible handicapped wheelchairs.
Thanks to these generous members of our community, the DAV was able to pay the annual insurance bill in full and can continue its mission of “Fulfilling our promises to the men and women who served.”
Frank Trasatti, the transportation coordinator for the DAV, shares that since assuming his role in October 2013, over 2,100 veterans have been transported over 190,000 miles.
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