SAN ANTONIO — Gas prices are affecting people in different ways. For some veterans who rely on assistance, getting to and from appointments can be tricky. There’s an organization in San Antonio that is helping get people where they need to go.

What You Need To Know

  • Alamo Area Council Of Governments (AACOG) provides transportation to a variety of destinations, like medical appointments, adult day cares and more

  • AACOG serves a number of communities in and around the San Antonio area

  • They recently purchased nine propane buses to cut down on emissions going into the air and improve air quality

A U.S. Army veteran, Randy Lee, is excited to show off just a few items he could get at a food distribution site.

“Bread, some coffee cake. Now that’s some good stuff right there,” said Lee. “It does help us out big time.”

He said he wouldn’t be able to get to it without the help of the Alamo Regional Transit, or the ART bus he and two other veterans took to get here. Lucky for them, veterans ride for free.

“Actually, it’s my first time because of the gas prices going up and everything,” said Lee.

Lee said sometimes it’s a struggle to get the food supply that lasts him a month, but he takes any means possible to get it.

“Last month, coming here I walked here, so I kind of got smart and said I better give these guys a call,” said Lee.

Miguel Segura, with Alamo Area Council Of Governments (AACOG), who supplies these rides, says he’s glad to help people like Lee get to the places they need to go. He said the gas prices have caused AACOG to make some changes to the way they do things.

“What we’re doing now is being a little more strategic in how we’re going out and routing the trips we make and the amount of people we put on those buses,” said Segura.

Besides being more strategic with the routes and number of people they take, they’re also cutting down on fuel costs.

“We’re also really excited about some new vehicles that we purchased. So we have now in rotation nine propane-fueled buses. What that does is not only help us with the air quality, it’s also saving us on the amount of fuel that we’re saving on,” said Segura.

Lee and the other veterans leave with enough food to stock their kitchens for a month.

“Thank you guys. God bless you guys,” said Lee.

He’s now able to save any gas money for something more important.