Burnet VetRides could be going away

BURNET, Texas (KXAN) - A popular rideshare program for veterans in Burnet and surrounding communities could be going away next year, citing lack of funding from the Texas Veterans Commission. Veterans say they've relied on the program since it started two years ago and don't know how they'll do without it.

It looks like a cruise around town with friends, and in a way it is, but these van rides provide a critical need to many Hill Country war veterans who need to get around. The veterans are often being shuttled to their medical appointments in Waco, Austin and other areas.

The fact that VetRides could be left in the dust next year stresses Roger Grill and his veteran friends.

"I use them about three to four times a month," said Grill, a US Army Vietnam Veteran. "There's a lot of people that need it, they need it, and it's imperative that we have it."

VetRides started two years ago when the Texas Veterans Commission gave $90,000 in grant money to the Burnet program. This year the organization received $100,000, but next year is a different story. The commission said money is already tight and they won't have any money for any VetRides program statewide.

Chuck Caraway helped bring the program to Burnet.

"We did some checking around and 94 percent of our clientele at this time either have no car or have no money for gas, or [they're] in a wheel chair," said Caraway.

The commission said contributions have dropped and commissioners voted to redirect money to other financial needs, e.g. counseling and housing services for veterans. They say there simply wasn't enough money to cover VetRides in 2013.

"We have five paid drivers at this point and time and unless we raise a lot more money., that's going to have to go to all volunteers,' said Caraway. " We have 15 volunteer drivers now, we need 40."

For now, these veterans are keeping up their spirits and hope the community will help keep their wheels turning.

The Texas Veterans Commission said they had 208 applications for funding this year and only 37 organizations actually received money, VetRides in Burnet was one of them. Since VetRides didn't make the cut in 2013, they will have to find private funding and dozens of volunteers to keep running.