SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2018
Drivers
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from 1A
Trips to the medical centers
provide a number of advan-
tages to veterans, beyond
simple transportation.
“One reason I drive the van
is that I get the opportunity to
tell veterans what they’re
entitled to,” Swant said.
“You’d be surprised how
many veterans don’t know
what they’re entitled to. Some
people think that they only
get three years of medical
care, but it’s not true. They
get lifetime medical care if
they meet the qualifications.”
The program also acts as
protection
for
veterans
against being taken advantage
of.
“Back east, there was a
time when people were paint-
ing vans to look like DAV
All Books & Clothes
Thi s Sunday and Monday
March 25 & 26
We are open until 8pm on Sunday!
St. Vincent
de Paul
2315 Hwy. 101 Florence
(541) 997-8460
svdp.us
“Have some fun, save some money,
do something nice for your neighbor.”
vans and taking veterans to
the hospital — then charging
them,” Jim said. “Some veter-
ans don’t know any different,
they figured it was a ride and
they had to pay.”
The trips also provide an
extra cushion of safety for the
veterans, where the drivers
can facilitate urgent medical
care if a problem arises.
While the drivers are not
allowed to provide medical
care to the veterans — they
are not even allowed to have
physical contact with them —
the drivers can contact emer-
gency personnel.
“We’re also authorized to
call a sheriff’s or emergency
department if something
comes up so we can go in
there and let them take care of
the problem,” Swant said.
The idea of driving veter-
ans to facilities started in
Florence before the DAV
became involved.
“The program was original-
ly started by Al Stapleton,”
Swant said. “He used his own
private vehicle. He went
through three vans transport-
ing vets to Portland and
Roseburg with his own gas
money.”
But as the cost of the pro-
gram ran higher, along with
liability issues, the program
was taken over by the
Florence DAV around 15
years ago. And throughout its
existence, the program has
received strong support from
the community.
“We get a lot of local sup-
port from the merchants, like
Tony’s Garage,” Swant said.
“I told him we needed to get
fog lights and I asked him
what he would charge. He
said ‘I wouldn’t charge any-
thing.’ He asked I drop the
van off on Friday night and he
would have the lights on
ready for the morning, and he
did. That’s the kind of support
you get from the local area.”
But to keep the program
going, they need drivers. As
to the qualifications?
“You have to have a pulse,”
Swant joked. “Drivers need a
valid driver’s license and to
go through a background
check and a physical and be
insurable.”
For drivers like Swant and
Casey, the benefits to driving
are in the people that they
serve.
“You’re just helping your
veterans out,” Casey said.
“It’s a well-needed thing. I’ve
had people try and give me
tips, and I say, ‘If I didn’t
want to do this, I wouldn’t be
there.’”
“They couldn’t pay me to
do this,” Swant added.
To learn more about the
program, or the schedule a
ride-a-long, contact Swant at
541-968-9512.
To become a driver for the
DAV, call 541-440-1272 for
the Roseburg route, or 541-
997-1123 for the Portland
route.
Earth
tomer rebates for invest-
ments such as energy-effi-
cient household appliances,
windows, insulation and
renewable energy systems, as
well as paperless billing and
energy-saving advice.
More information on energy
conservation and Central
Lincoln’s rebate programs can
be found at www.clpud.org.
Those interested in partici-
pating in Earth Hour can
find more information at
www.earthhour.org.
from 1A
Chandler affirmed the
local electric utility’s align-
ment with long-term changes
in energy consumption.
“We very much support
conservation,” she said, “and
we have programs to encour-
age people to save electrici-
ty.”
Programs and options
offered by the community-
owned utility include cus-
Screening Presented by: Siuslaw News & KCST & KCFM Coast Radio
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Two Showings @ City Lights Cinema
12:30pm • 6:00pm
FROM EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Tickets are FREE*
Admission tickets are required
and available starting
March 26 th at:
• Siuslaw News 148 Maple St.
• City Lights Cinema 1920 HWY 101
Representatives will be
available for a Q&A after
each showing.
*Only 230 tickets available,
fi rst come, fi rst served,
Limit 2 per person.
9 A
ANTHONY BOURDAIN
WASTED!
The Story of Food Waste