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 14th Annual Charity Poker Run which provided a donation of $42,000 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 $42,000, a record amount for this event, brings the total donation to a $225,000 in 14 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 2017, the DAV Hospital Transportation Network in South Dakota provided Free rides for 8,160 veterans, 18,609 volunteer hours by our drivers, and 487,677 miles driven. Since the Transportation Program began in South Dakota, we have provided free rides for 387,954 veterans, logged 743,345 volunteer hours by our drivers, who have driven 17,237,244 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 25 vehicles in South Dakota with locations in: Aberdeen, Belle Fourche, Brookings, Fort Thompson, Huron, Lake Andes, Madison, 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 Black Hills Health Care System at VA Fort 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.