Staff photo by Fritz Busch New Ulm Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 15 members from left, Victor Stikkel, Mike Finstad, Jerry Nachreiner and Roy Janni stand next to a mobility van available for medical appointments and other outings.

NEW ULM — The New Ulm Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 15 headquarters is a virtual storehouse of assistance for all veterans, transitioning service members and nationwide members.

Located at 1522 Valley Street South, the New Ulm DAV headquarters houses a number of items designed to increase mobility including scooters, walkers, power chairs, wheelchairs, crutches, canes and portable toilets.

Chapter 15 meets 9 a.m. to noon every Wednesday to sort clothing donations gathered from green clothing bins at a number of area locations.

Clothing drop-off bins can be found at the DAV Chapter 15 site, 1522 S. Valley St., Hy-Vee Foods, 2015 S. Broadway; Don Sanderson Insurance, 1600 N. Broadway; Cashwise Foods, 1220 Westridge Rd.; Courtland Mart, 301 Main St.; Lafayette UFC C-Store, 180 9th St., Lafayette; Schutz Family Foods, 900 Main St. East, Sleepy Eye; Gibbon UFC C-Store, 1253 1st Ave.; Cenex, 203 E. 4th St., Winthrop.

Brown County Veterans Service Officer Greg Peterson urged people to place clothing donations in the green bins.

“We always encourage people to donate clothes .The national clothing donation program began in 1986 after the Veteran’s Administration stopped paying veterans travel pay,” said Peterson.

DAV Chapter 15 Commander Mike Finstad said a mobility van is available to transport veterans to appointments as far away as Minneapolis, St. Cloud and Mankato and other outings involving veterans.

In an effort to continue providing veterans with rides to medical appointments that require a mobility van, the New Ulm DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Chapter 15 bought a brand new wheelchair van and donated their older one to a rural Hanska veteran.

The New Ulm DAV organization recently voted to sell their older van to a veteran in need, Dean Gulden of rural Hanska for $1 and purchase a new 2024 Plymouth Voyager Rollx wheelchair van for $61,995.

“We’re in the business of giving. I learned that Dean was getting wheelchair ramps and that he could really use a wheelchair van,” said Brown County Certified Veterans Advocate (CVA) and Veterans Services Director Greg Peterson.

Gulden served in the U.S. Air Force as a C-130 Aircraft Metals Technology Specialist in the late 1980s. He was diagnosed with an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis that greatly affects his mobility.

“Receiving this van gives me a profound sense of freedom and empowerment. It will allow me to travel more independently and comfortably. It has already impacted my emotional well-being. I’m really glad to get this van. Now a I have a good way to take my wheelchair some place. I can’t drive anymore but I have friends that drive for me,” said Gulden.

Peterson said funds used to buy the new wheelchair van with a folding rear wheelchair ramp, came from clothing donations placed in green metal containers throughout the area.

He said the 2013 DAV wheelchair van had less than 100,000 miles on it and was well maintained.

Peterson said his office has also helped people donate vehicles to veterans.

Chapter officers are Commander Mike Finstad, Junior Vice Commander Dwight Shavlik, Adjutant Mona Widmer, Treasurer Richard Paulson, Judge Advocate Jerry Nachreiner and Chaplin Roy Janni.

The organization takes its mission from President Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address, in which Lincoln called on the nation “to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and his widow, and his orphan.

The New Ulm Chapter of DAV works to assist local veterans where needed. This includes helping transport veterans to medical appointments, repairing and distributing medical equipment; fundraising and even assisting disabled veterans with lawn care.

DAV is always looking for local volunteers to assist. For more information, call 507-359-1921.

Visit https://www.dav.org/find-your-local-office/