In late 2021, Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Rock County approached the Hendricks Family Foundation regarding a significant need they were seeing in the local senior veteran community. Challenges associated with living alone, on minimal income and often with a disability were resulting in these veterans becoming increasingly isolated and losing access to critical services that allowed them to maintain some sense of independence.

To address this need, RSVP proposed the creation of the Vets Helping Vets Transportation Program – a free transportation service for veterans 55 and older who needed assistance to attend medical appointments and other activities that allow them to remain independent; all staffed by volunteer senior veteran drivers. The program was designed to provide support around independence in two different directions; providing the rider increased access to no cost transportation and providing the driver with meaningful activity and increased connection to the community.

How would the program work?

• The veteran rider, who does not have a vehicle, is disabled and unable to drive, cannot afford private transportation, or is not close to and/or able to use public transportation, would make an appointment for the ride.
• A volunteer veteran driver would pick-up the rider, providing transportation to the appointment, staying during the appointment and then transporting home. The ride might be to a local medical facility, the pharmacy, a dentist, a counselor, the bank, the grocery, or some other necessary appointment within the Beloit/Rock County area. Rides would also available for VA services in Milwaukee, Madison and, on rare occasions, to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.
• There would be no cost to the veteran rider and the veteran driver would be reimbursed for mileage and a meal stipend if the ride was longer than 4 hours.

The Hendricks Family Foundation made a $25,000 commitment to support the Vets Helping Vets Transportation Program in its early stages as it focused on growing ridership, increasing the veteran driver pool and increasing veteran connectedness to the community.

The program engaged with local veteran-serving organizations like the American Legion, the VFW and VetsRoll, Inc. as well as with the local Veterans Service Office, non-profit organizations and the VA system to promote both the ridership and volunteer driver opportunities available through the program. To-date, the program has substantially exceeded its goals, almost doubling the number of riders since the start of the program and increasing the driver pool by 516%; with 100% of the drivers reporting increased connectedness to the community.

Our veterans gave all in service to our country. Supporting local organizations and programs like the RSVP Vets Helping Vets Transportation Program in addressing the unique needs of veterans and veteran families is one way in which the Foundation honors their unparalleled service.