Submitted photo Rural Hanska Veteran Dean Gulden, left, accepts the keys to a 2013 wheelchair van donated by DAV Chapter 15 Veterans. DAV van driver Jerry Nachreiner is pictured at right. Gulden served in the U.S Air Force. He was diagnosed with an aggressive form of multiple schlerosis that greatly affects his mobility.

NEW ULM — 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.

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

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.

For more information, visit https://www.donatedavmn.org/, help.dav.org; and vehiclesforveterans.org.