MITCHELL — The smell of fresh pancakes filled the air at the 4-H Fairgrounds on Saturday as community members gathered for the annual Disabled American Veterans (DAV) pancake feed, an event that serves both as a fundraiser and a way to support the transportation needs of local veterans.
Hosted by Mitchell DAV Chapter 27, the pancake feed is an important fundraiser for the organization, which relies on community support to ensure veterans have access to reliable transportation.
The van, which has been serving veterans in the region for years, has racked up mileage and required costly repairs, including a recent transmission replacement. All proceeds from the free-will donation event will go toward maintaining and eventually replacing the DAV van that helps veterans get to their medical appointments.
The DAV van is essential for local veterans who need transportation to medical appointments, often in Sioux Falls at the VA Hospital. County Veteran’s Service Officer (CVSO) Tim Storly emphasized the vital role the van plays, not only in Davison County but in surrounding areas, including Hanson, Sanborn and Jerauld counties. With an average of four trips a week, the van is constantly in use.
“This van is an essential part of helping our local veterans,” Storly said. “Without it, many veterans would have difficulty accessing the care they need.”
Martin Christensen, a key organizer, said the funds from the annual pancake feeds have been critical in keeping the van in service.
“The last few years, we’ve used the money not just for upkeep but also to tuck away funds for when the time comes to replace the vehicle,” Christensen said.
The van, currently at 103,000 miles, was provided to the Davison County DAV office after being removed from another county due to misuse. While some funding for the van’s upkeep comes from the national VA program, larger repairs are the responsibility of the local chapter.
The need for funding became especially apparent last year when the van required a new transmission. At the time, it had 70,000 miles on it.
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The DAV is actively working to ensure that the van remains in service for years to come. Arthur Escalante, a DAV member originally from Washington state, expressed a desire to find a local business willing to donate a van, similar to his experience with a van purchased from a sheriff’s department for just one dollar.
“I’d love to see something like that happen here,” Escalante said.
The event saw a typical turnout of about 125 attendees, and the organizers hope to continue building on this support to ensure the future of the van service.
The DAV’s role in the region has expanded since Christensen helped re-establish the local chapter in 2022. After a gap in services when the previous chapter, Chapter 7, lost its charter in 2021, Christensen took action to rebuild the organization and launched Chapter 27, which now boasts 90 members.
“They kind of lost their charter, so we pulled it back and rebuilt it completely,” Christensen said. “Now, our main goal is to help disabled veterans get the transportation they need to medical appointments.”
The van can accommodate five passengers plus the driver and is available exclusively for VA medical appointments. Riders must be ambulatory, as the service does not accommodate wheelchairs. Trips are typically limited to three passengers to allow space for caretakers and necessary medical equipment. All 14 volunteer drivers undergo training, physicals, and background checks, with 99% of them being military veterans themselves.
The need for the van is new tires, and Escalante is exploring additional funding sources to cover the cost.
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“With the miles we put on these vans, once they hit 100,000, the wear and tear really starts adding up,” Escalante said.
The need for reliable transportation for veterans remains a priority for the DAV, especially as the van approaches the point where it will need to be replaced. With support from the community, the local DAV chapter hopes to continue offering this essential service and ensure that veterans can always get the care they need.
“We have a great group of volunteers, and with continued community support, we can keep our transportation services running smoothly,” Christensen said. “It’s a great way to serve our veterans in rural South Dakota.”
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