WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Pictured Above, United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 9 Officials present Representatives of theVeterans Administration (VA) Hospital in the Southern Tier City of Bath a new Chevrolet Van.  It’s the third donation - totaling an overall cost of $50,000 - of a Van to VA Hospitals in Buffalo and Bath by the UAW over the past 10 years.  The Vans are being used to transport Veterans to and from Medical Appointments, Bath VA Hospital Spokeswoman Lynn Dinehart tells WNYLaborToday.com.  Pictured Above, From the Left, is UAW Region 9 Director Scott Adams, Dinehart and UAW Region 9/Veterans Committee Chairman Guy Newell. (Photo Courtesy of the Bath VA Hospital)

(WILLIAMSVILLE) – Over the past 10 years, the Buffalo-headquartered United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 9’s Western New York Community Action Program-Veterans Committee has donated three Vans - at an overall and combined cost of $50,000 - to Veterans Administration (VA) Hospitals in Buffalo and the Southern Tier City of Bath, which are used to transport Veterans to and from Medical Appointments. 

Last week, the UAW presented a new Chevrolet Van to the Bath VA Hospital, which UAW Veterans Committee Chairman Guy Newell tells WNYLaborToday.com was purchased through Collections by area UAW Members.

“The VA Hospitals have been overwhelmed by the donations,” Newell tells Your Regional, On-Line Labor Newspaper.  “It’s a good feeling and we appreciate (the VA’s) acknowledgement.  We have a lot of dedicated Retirees (who get involved).  We raise the money through yearly Gate Donations (at UAW-Represented Plants) and through local Auto Dealerships where the Service Technicians are represented by UAW Local 55 (here in the Buffalo area).”

Bath VA Hospital Spokeswoman Lynn Dinehart told WNYLaborToday.com in a telephone interview from the Southern Tier that the UAW is a “large contributor” to the VA Hospitals here in Western New York.  “The UAW has become the strongest supporter (of the VA Hospitals) over the years.  The UAW has a lot of Members who are Vets and they give back.  If not for their generosity, we wouldn’t have this service,” she said.

The Vans are used to transport area Veterans from their homes to their Medical Appointments, explained Dinehart, who added that more than 2,900 Vets located in five area Counties have been served by the Vans just during this past year.  The Vans previously donated by the UAW have in excess of 200,000 miles, she added.

Each UAW Region 9 Local Union has a Veterans Committee, said Newell, who has served as Chairman of the Committee since 2001.  For example, Newell said UAW Local 774, which represents Workers at the Tonawanda Stamping Plant off River Road just outside Buffalo, has as many as 30 Members on its Veterans Committee.

The Van Presentation took place late last week at UAW Region 9’s Office on George Karl Boulevard in the Buffalo Suburb of Williamsville.  It was the third van that local UAW Vets have donated.  The first was donated in 2006 to the Buffalo VA Hospital and the second in 2008 to the Bath VA Hospital. 

In addition, the UAW Veterans Committee also holds several special events each year at the Buffalo, Batavia and Bath VA Hospitals for Vets, such as Fishing Trips, Monte Carlo Nights, Hot Dog Roasts and Picnics.

Dinehart, meanwhile, told WNYLaborToday.com the UAW also raised $4,000 to construct a metal building for the VA in Bath that houses 60 bicycles used by Veterans and a Repair Shop.  “We’re located in a very rural area, so the Vans and the bicycles are a big help to us,” she said.

The next big VA Fundraiser that will be held is the upcoming and 13th Annual Veterans Appreciation 5k Run on November 3rd at 12 Noon in the Niagara County City of Lockport at UAW Local 686’s Union Hall on Walnut Street.  Each year, as many as 200 runners participate in the Vets Run, UAW Officials tell WNYLaborToday.com.