Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 48 Sonoma

Who Are We? Our local Disabled American Veterans Sonoma County Chapter 48 is a sub-organization of DAV National, a non-profit organization founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932. Chapter 48 comprises all volunteers who have provided services at no cost to disabled veterans and their families in Sonoma County since 1938. We also serve neighboring counties (Napa, Mendocino).

Our Mission Statement We are dedicated to a single purpose: Keeping our promise to America's veterans. We accomplish this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them, fighting for their interests on Capitol Hill, providing employment resources to veterans and their families, and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life.

Serving disabled veterans is DAV's legacy and helps distinguish our mission from other veterans' service organizations. However, research shows that many people, including veterans and supporters, associate the word "disability" with extreme examples of injuries and illness (loss of limbs, severe traumatic brain injuries, etc.) and, for this reason, may not turn to DAV. This is why we have developed specific and intentional communication practices that allow us to talk about disabilities and the great work DAV does by portraying strength in the word "disabled" without limiting our reach and creating misconceptions about our mission.

Our Positive Impact DAV is a nonprofit that provides a lifetime of support for veterans of all generations, their families, and survivors, helping more than 1 million veterans annually (nationwide) in positive, life-changing ways. Our cost-free programs empower disabled veterans and their families to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. Our programs help veterans access the benefits and health care they've earned while connecting them with meaningful employment and representing their voice on Capitol Hill. DAV’s mission is carried forward by providing free, professional assistance through many different programs, which include a network of state-level departments and local chapters. Our services are made possible through the generosity of our donors and volunteers and the dedication of our members.

About the DAV Volunteer Transportation Network (VTN) DAV established the Volunteer Transportation Network (VTN), a free non-medical transportation service, in collaboration with the Veteran Affairs (VA) Healthcare System nationally. The shuttle service helps provide transportation to and from VA-scheduled medical appointments for ambulatory veterans with limited mobility, lack transportation, or cannot drive themselves. The service ensures that veterans have reliable and safe transportation to their medical appointments, helping to improve health outcomes. Volunteers are crucial to the success of the VTN program and DAV chapter membership, as they help with fundraising, organizing community events, coordinating outreach efforts, and providing non-emergency medical transportation in their community. To learn more about how to help the VTN program, please visit https://dav48sonoma.org/transportation/