Community connections and partnerships led the Silicon Valley (Calif.) Chapter to learn about — and then address — the transportation needs of local veterans.

In 2024, the chapter’s transportation pilot program provided free taxi rides to appointments and essential services to local veterans. The effort — a partnership between the chapter and Yellow Cab of Silicon Valley — was funded through grants from the office of Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee as part of his district’s URJGENT community microgrant program.

According to Col. Ray Watts, USA (Ret), chapter president, when he learned about the availability of the grants, he asked his contact at the county’s Office of Veterans Services where that money could make an impact. The answer: rides for veterans from the office to appointments.

“[The Office of Veterans Services] said 90% of veterans they met with needed transportation to Palo Alto or Menlo Park VA Medical Center,” Watts said.

After getting Yellow Cab on board, the chapter applied for and was awarded its first of two $5,000 URJGENT grants. Members of the chapter then got to work spreading the word about the new program, printing and distributing fliers and communicating to veterans. The Office of Veterans Services scheduled and tracked the taxi rides.

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Between April and November, 121 veterans used the program, primarily for medical appointments. Nearly 80% were seniors, and just more than a third were disabled veterans.

Watts said the program was successful and revealed a need in the local veterans community. Now, the chapter is working on ways to secure additional funding to continue the program.

This wasn’t the chapter’s only effort to provide transportation for local veterans. In October, members worked with the National Auto Body Council’s Recycled Rides program to donate a vehicle to a veteran, “a mother who was getting back on her feet and didn’t have a way to get around,” Watts said. The chapter wrote the recommendation for this veteran, and USAA, which is a partner of the Recycled Rides program, donated the vehicle.

“Me and my fellow chapter members are very passionate about veterans’ causes because we have seen the challenges some face,” Watts said. “We want to do our part to help.”