The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) of South Dakota would like to say a “big thank you” to the 727th Transportation Committee for hosting the outstanding 15th annual Charity Poker Run, which provided a donation of $43,000 to the DAV Hospital Transportation Network, which provides free rides for Veterans to the VA Health Care Systems and VA Clinics. 

This year’s donation of $43,000, a record high donation, brings the total donation to a $268,000 in 15 years from the annual poker run.

Thank you to the community of Brookings and the patriotic citizens who participated and provided donations in this year’s event. The money raised by the 727th Transportation Committee will be used to assist our veterans in South Dakota who served and sacrificed for our great country. 

In FY 2018, the DAV Hospital Transportation Network in South Dakota provided free rides for 7,534 veterans, 22,374 volunteer hours by our drivers, and 483,340 miles driven. 

Since the Transportation Program began in South Dakota, we have provided free rides for 395,488 veterans, logged 765,719 volunteer hours by our drivers, who have driven 17,756,584 miles.

We are very proud, as the DAV Hospital Transportation Network was started in Sioux Falls in 1984 and was picked up in 1987 as a DAV National Program. Currently we have 27 vehicles in South Dakota with locations in: Aberdeen, Belle Fourche, Brookings, Fort Thompson, Huron, Lake Andes, Lemmon, Madison, McLaughlin, Milbank, Miller, Mitchell, Mobridge, Pierre, Rapid City, Redfield, Rosebud, Sioux City, Sioux Falls (three vehicles), Sisseton, Sturgis, Yankton, Watertown, Webster and Winner.

We have two Hospital Transportation Service coordinators located at VA Black Hills Health Care System at VA Ft. Meade and VA Health Care System in Sioux Falls. The drivers are all volunteers and do a super job for our veterans. 

DAV: “Fulfilling our promises to the men and women who served.”

A big “thank you” to the 727th Transportation Committee.