LEXINGTON, N.C. — Davidson County Veterans Services will now be able to help more clients thanks to a new mobile service unit.

What You Need To Know

  • Davidson County Veterans Services' new mobile unit is making its way through the county

  • The bus is aimed at removing the barrier to transportation for vets who can't get to the Veterans Services center in Lexington

  • Veterans Services director Rick Johnson says the county was going to retire a bus when he suggested repurposing it for veterans

Each year, the agency helps 11,000 veterans throughout the county to file benefit claims, insurance, appeals and more.

Organizers say many of those clients are spread out and don’t have access to transportation. 

The new unit will allow the agency to come to them and help them apply for benefits and other resources. 

Veterans Services director Rick Johnson says county commissioners saw the need and were gracious to get the mobile unit on the road. 

“We get calls regularly from our outside community asking how to get us because I have no transportation. That's the biggest call. So about a year ago, the county was talking about retiring one of the buses, and I said, 'Hey wait a minute, maybe I can put it to good use,"' he said. 

Johnson served in the Air Force for 20 years before stepping into his role as director. 

He says he is proud to be taking the services into the community and reaching people who need them.

“Our veterans provide the foundation of freedom in this country, and we need to take care of those who sacrifice to take care of us,” Johnson said.

To learn more about resources for veterans in your area, click here.