By KATE DANIEL

The sun is barely peeking out over the horizon as Chuck Leavitt, a retired Army veteran, settles into his seat in the Disabled American Veterans van.

Leavitt, who is legally blind, relies on the van to transport him and his service dog from his Oak Harbor home to the VA hospital in Seattle.

He is one of about 50-60 veterans who depend on the free service each month.

Van service is operated entirely by volunteers; and many have bowed out recently due to illness, advanced age or other obligations.

Floyd Hawkins, Navy veteran and commander of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 47, estimated he’s had to cancel between four to six rides in July thus far. Most of those were cancelled because of a lack of available drivers.

“It imposes a hardship when we have to cancel,” he said.

When cancellations are necessary, Hawkins and his staff attempt to notify riders as soon as possible, but it can still be difficult for patients to rearrange care schedules.

Hawkins recently penned an open letter to Whidbey community members and organizations, calling for volunteer drivers.

The DAV currently has six drivers on board, though Hawkins said they need between 10 and 12 to adequately meet riders’ needs.

Due to the volunteer status of drivers, the number of available individuals fluctuates, as does their availability.

Hawkins said he is willing to work with volunteers to find mutually suitable times and dates; any amount of help is welcome.

Hawkins began driving himself in 2002 before volunteering as a service officer. He noted that the experience was incredibly rewarding.

The van rolls out five days a week and makes approximately six to seven stops along the way to Seattle, including Anacortes, Mount Vernon and occasional stops in Marysville and Everett. The first official pickup point is 6 a.m. at Haagen’s in Oak Harbor, though the van makes one prior stop at Leavitt’s home at 5:45 a.m.

Home pickups are not the norm, but the van makes an exception for certain individuals like Leavitt who cannot drive and don’t have a ride to the designated pickup point.

Leavitt has been riding the bus for about four years, he estimates.

All of his appointments, including seeing a cardiologist and dermatologist, are at the VA hospital in Seattle.

Leavitt explained that he has a “floppy heart,” a weak valve, for which he takes medication and checks in regularly with the doctor.

He rides the van two to three times a week.

“I could drive but it would be white-knuckle for everybody,” he joked.

If not for the van, Leavitt explained that he would have to spend the greater part of the day taking a combination of public transit buses in order to get to the hospital. His return trip would also be far more difficult, he explained, as the standard bus route from the Clinton ferry dock runs until about 7 p.m., but para-transit typically doesn’t run as late.

Although he could see doctors closer to home, he said he’s been visiting VA doctors in Seattle for 18 years, and it would be a considerable effort to establish a new network of providers. Not to mention, he’d still need to arrange para-transit transportation to each of his individual appointments, which would likely prove more cumbersome than the one-stop-shop VA hospital.

“I think the calibre of drivers is excellent,” said Leavitt, adding that he’s yet to encounter a grumpy driver or one with whom he doesn’t feel safe. “It’s a pleasure.”

Aside from the occasional home pickup for vets like Leavitt, drivers make additional accommodations for riders whenever possible, including considerations for sufferers of PTSD. One rider in particular, Hawkins said, needed to ride at the back of the bus in order to prevent anyone from sitting behind him and causing excessive stress.

“We try our best to accommodate the passenger,” Hawkins said.

Anyone can volunteer, veterans or otherwise. Drivers must have a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record and be able to pass a standard background check. The VA also requires prospective volunteer drivers to pass a physical exam and attend training.

Anyone interested in volunteering may stop by the DAV office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and fill out an application. The office is located in the Veterans of Foreign Wars building at 3037 Goldie Road. Call 360-682-2945 for more information.