The Jan Dils Foundation has brought Operation Transportation to Huntington, making it the third city to embrace the program that offers free bus rides to veterans.
Dils is an attorney who has represented veterans throughout her career and in doing so, found that transportation was a need for them. Through her foundation, veterans receive free bus rides with the transportation being paid for by different fundraising efforts provided to the foundation and by her own donations. Parkersburg and Charleston also participate.
ƵIt helps the bus transportation system, allowing more people to ride, because they can afford it and itƵs free, and then it also helps our veterans. So, itƵs a win for the community in both ways,Ƶ Dils said.
In Huntington, participants of the program only need to provide their DD-214, or their military ID, in order to ride the bus fare-free, according to Paul Davis, general manager and CEO of the Tri-State Transit Authority.
In Parkersburg and Charleston, however, participants need to get a free bus pass by using their DD-214 and contacting their local transportation service. Parkersburg residents can contact the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority at 304-422-4100, and Charleston residents can contact the Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority at 304-343-3840.
According to Davis, this program will make it more convenient for veterans to get around town and reach services like the VA Medical Center or complete everyday tasks.
ƵItƵs just a great program for our veterans, and itƵs just, really a small appreciation for what theyƵve done for us as Americans,Ƶ he said.
According to Dils, the program started about nine years ago in Parkersburg. Once she got the program fully funded there, she brought it to Charleston, and now Huntington, with hopes to take it statewide one day.
She said the more the foundation is able to gain the trust of the different transportation authorities across the state, the faster it will be able to move forward with plans. She has also said that the program is still growing, and wherever it expands next will depend on what city is more receptive to the program and has a need for veteran support.
ƵI do think that weƵre getting better at how to implement this. The transportation authorities, they talk to each other, and I think that makes things a lot better for them too,Ƶ she said.
The foundation also hosts fundraisers to help veterans.
Its biggest fundraiser is the Freedom Fun Run 5K, which will be held Saturday, June 28, at 963 Market St. in Parkersburg. In-person registration will begin at 7 a.m. and costs $20, with the race itself beginning at 8 a.m. Participants will also be able to take part in the run virtually now through 11:59 p.m. June 27 by completing the 5K on their own time and then sharing the results with the Jan Dils Foundation.
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