A "volunteer driven" program

The Red Cross has a long history of serving alongside the military. Beginning in the mid-1800s the organization's founder, Clara Barton, risked her life on the battlefields of the Civil War to tend to fallen soldiers. Over time, Red Cross services expanded and were no longer limited to active duty personnel.  The variety of services offered to veterans continues to this day.

The Berks County Chapter’s Veterans Transportation Service is a program with a very hands-on approach. For almost 30 years we have been providing transportation services to medical appointments for veterans of Berks County.  When it initially started, this program was operated on an as-needed basis.  Today the chapter provides transportation five days a week for veterans to the Lebanon VA Medical Center.

Since April 1998, a chapter vehicle has been dedicated for this program, enabling five veterans to be transported each weekday. We now have two vehicles and the capacity to take a minimum of five passengers. With the help of volunteers (who happen to be veterans themselves) we are able to provide the transportation at no cost to the veteran.  This truly is a “volunteer driven” program!

More veterans are seeking medical services through the Veterans Administration (VA).  Through our program, veterans can access and receive much needed medical care through the VA.  It is particularly important to veterans who live on limited or fixed incomes and are without their own means of transportation or the funds to access transportation.

This program allows local veterans to be more self-sufficient and maintain their independent living status. Many of them wouldn’t have the financial means to travel to medical appointments. The service provides affordable transportation and access to available health care, allowing veterans to use income to provide for basic needs such as food and shelter.

To participate in our Veterans Transportation Service, contact our  Emergency Services Department.  As long as we have vacancies in the van, we can take veterans to and from the VA Medical Center - it’s as easy as that! This program is growing in leaps and bounds and we need more drivers.  If you’re interested in providing transportation for local veterans, please call the Chapter at  (610) 375-4383 .