A new transportation initiative recently began to help local vets get to and from their doctors’ appointments.

Clarence Rundle, a veteran and retired Sullivan County transportation employee, is taking advantage of the free rides.

“I ran Albany and Castle Point for I don't know how many years, and the fact was, I saw so many guys that need help,” said Rundle.

According to the Office For the Aging, New York is home to more than 830,000 veterans, many of whom live in Sullivan County.

To Rundle, the need to help local vets was apparent. After his retirement, he started utilizing the services.

“I bought my house years ago, and I am far enough in town and close enough in town so I could walk to town if I had to. But with this service, I don't have to do that now,” said Rundle.

Rundle visits the veterans’ local clinic often due to his hearing loss.

“I was a machinist, me and the boiler room and all the noises and stuff, and then as a machinist mate, my general quarters was up on the flight deck. So I stood beside guns that went off when they were practicing out at sea, and that's how I lost my hearing,” said Rundle.

Stephen Walsh, the director of veterans’ services for Sullivan County, says right now, his department takes care of more than 20,000 active files for veterans throughout Sullivan County that utilize their services. The feedback he receives has been very positive, he said, and he encourages the younger vets to also utilize their services.

“Congress allocates funds to help all veterans of all eras with all different types of issues by the amount of veterans that are participating with VA medical and with veteran benefits,” said Rundle.

Rundle just wants to encourage other vets to take advantage of the resources that they have in Sullivan County.

“I tell everybody ‘if we don't use it, we'll lose it,’ and if you lose something, [you] never get it back,” said Rundle.

The transportation system runs Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.