| RSVP Driver Services/Vets Helping Vets - 2025 |
Amount Funded: $2,500.00 |
| The RSVP Vets Helping Vets (VHV) Program connects veteran driver volunteers with fellow veterans and their spouses who need rides to medical appointments. Because they share similar experiences, our veteran drivers build meaningful relationships with their passengers while ensuring they can access essential care. Without this service, many Stoughton-area veterans would struggle to attend medical appointments that help them stay healthy and independent. Alternative transportation options, especially trips to Madison, are costly and often out of reach.
This program provides “more than a ride.†Volunteer drivers not only provide transportation but also escort passengers, assist those with mild mobility challenges, help them navigate clinics, and serve as an extra layer of logistical and emotional support.
SACF funding has been vital in recruiting and recognizing these dedicated veteran volunteers, strengthening the bond between the VHV Program and the local veteran community. Each Veterans Day, RSVP of Dane County organizes a veteran-specific recognition event. Last year, RSVP hosted its annual Veterans Day celebration at the RSVP office, featuring local catering, live music by Vets On Frets, and a powerful presentation. Building on that success, this year, RSVP’s Vets Helping Vets program will honor community veterans (and volunteer drivers) with a special Veterans Day Car Wash Event, hosted at a locally owned car wash service. This unique celebration will offer a practical “thank you†to veterans, while also fostering community connection and recognition of their service.
Additionally, RSVP honors its broader volunteer team at an annual recognition eventâ€â€Âthis year celebrating Driver Service’s 50th year of service, scheduled for 9/25/25, at Barnwood Events Center. Recognition is essential to sustaining strong connections with volunteers and veterans, helping maintain a dedicated, trusted, and caring corps of drivers who make independence possible for so many.
The RSVP VHV program also extends its scope of service to participation in the Wayne D. Horner Memorial Stand Down of Madison, an annual event held every October that honors and assists homeless veterans in Dane County. Lorrie Hylkema, RSVP’s VHV Coordinator, is the Stand Down Treasurer and contributor to the planning and implementation of this event, providing local homeless veterans with free services( vaccinations, dental care, housing assist, mental health resources, and foot care.
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| RSVP volunteers make a measurable impact in the Stoughton area through three essential service programs: Home Delivered Meals, Vets Helping Vets (VHV), and Driver Escort.
Volunteers collectively drove 23,646 miles to provide essential transportation and food delivery services, supporting older adults, veterans, and individuals with limited access to reliable transportation. Through the Driver Escort Program, RSVP provided approximately 345 rides for Stoughton-area residents. Of these, 98 rides were delivered through the Vets Helping Vets initiative, which specifically supports veterans traveling to critical medical and therapeutic appointments. Nearly 20 veterans in Stoughton relied on these services for access to healthcare and social support.
RSVPs Home Delivered Meals Program volunteers delivered 12,877 meals to older adults, veterans, and family caregivers in Stoughton helping to reduce food insecurity, promote health, and support independent living. These deliveries often provide not just nourishment, but also critical wellness checks and social connection. In total, 2,030 volunteer service hours were contributed across all three programs in the Stoughton area. These hours reflect a strong commitment by local volunteers to meeting the needs of vulnerable populations, helping to reduce isolation, improve health outcomes, and increase access to essential services.
This transportation service impacts the lives of Stoughton residents who rely on safe, reliable rides, while also providing meaningful volunteer opportunities for seniors and veterans who want to give back and find fulfillment in their daily lives. More than 50 dedicated volunteers support the Driver Escort/Vets Helping Vets (DE/VHV) and Home Delivered Meals (HDM) programs in Stoughton. Together, they make RSVP a vital community resourceharnessing the power of volunteerism to meet pressing local needs and strengthen community connections.
Rides for local veterans and/or their spouses are coordinated by both the RSVP Vets Helping Vets Coordinator and by the Stoughton Area Senior Center Ride Coordinator, both of whom utilize RSVP volunteer drivers. Requests for rides come from the Dane County Transportation Center, VA Hospital, DAV of Wisconsin, Social Workers from SSM Dean Hospital and Clinic, UW Hospital and Clinics, UP-Meriter Hospital and Clinics, and individual veterans or family members needing transportation services.
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