LINCOLN, Neb. — Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy today thanked the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) for a contribution totaling nearly $27,000 that helped provide four new vehicles for use at the state’s veterans homes.
The vans were delivered today and transferred to drivers with the state’s veterans homes in Norfolk, Bellevue and Grand Island. The Nebraska VFW applied for funding to provide four vans meeting Americans With Disabilities Act requirements and provided matching funds needed for the purchase.
“I want to thank the VFW for their generosity in helping acquire new buses for our veterans homes,” said Lt. Gov. Sheehy. “Our veterans groups support our military personnel and our veterans in many ways. This is just another great example of their outstanding work.”
The smaller, more efficient vans are equipped to provide safe transportation for seated and wheelchair passengers and any staff needed to accompany veterans for medical appointments and other community excursions.
Nebraska VFW Adjutant John Liebsack said, “This has been a two year project and we’re so pleased to contribute something that has an impact on the daily lives of veterans at the state’s veterans homes.”
Each van cost $33,750 for a total of $135,000. The Nebraska VFW provided 20 percent of the total, with 80 percent coming from the state’s share of federal funding for a program helping private, non-profit entities purchase vehicles to aid in the transportation of persons with disabilities and the elderly.
John Hilgert, Director of the Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs and the Division of Veterans Homes in the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, said, “These vehicles will help veterans to go to doctor’s appointments and make trips to the VA hospital. They will also allow them to go on outings and attend events of interest to them.”
The funding for the program comes from the Federal Transit Administration and is administered by the Nebraska Department of Roads.