For several weeks,
KDVA Veterans Benefits Field Representantive Linda Knighton and her Regional Administrator Matt LaPierre had been seeking donations of wheelchairs to help veterans traveling on Honor Flights to see their monuments in Washington, D.C.
Then two wheelchairs appeared unsolicited, thanks to Bobby Joe Dorton, owner of The Ashland Outlet (on right in photo) and his employee Matt Elam (on left in photo.)
Matt Elam has a friend who works for the VAMC in Huntington, WVA, just across the border from Ashland. The friend suggested Matt Elam talk to Linda to if KDVA had any need for the brand new wheelchairs. Neither of the men had any idea KDVA was actually seeking any donations before they contacted Linda. They simply wanted to help veterans. Linda explained the Honor Flight to Matt Elam during our first telephone conversation and told him her supervisor was actually pursuing wheelchairs for that purpose. So long as they were being used for veterans was their only donation criteria.
KDVA provides
professional help free of charge to veterans in obtaining and using federal and state benefits to which they are entitled. We help veterans and their dependents make successful claims for benefits, privileges, rights and other veteran services. Benefits include access to veterans nursing homes, burial with honors in veterans cemeteries, benefits counseling, and specific assistance for homeless and women veterans.
KDVA Benefits Staff at annual training October 2016.
KDVA staff helping veterans at the State Fair.