Van helps Clear Path serve veterans

The van shuttles veterans from Madison and Onondaga counties to Clear Path’s weekly Canteen Wednesdays.

CHITTENANGO, N.Y. >> Clear Path for Veterans had a vision four years ago to provide transportation for veterans across Onondaga and Madison counties to its headquarters in Chittenango.

In 2018, that vision became reality.

Today, Clear Path operates a 2017 Ford Transit 12-passenger van to transport veterans from multiple pick-up locations to its headquarters for its weekly Canteen lunch.

On the first and third Wednesdays of the month, it picks up at American Legion Post 1353 in Sylvan Beach, American Legion Post 169 in Oneida, Tower 1 of the Oneida Housing Authority and American Legion Post 140 in Canastota. On the second and fourth Wednesdays it picks up at the Behavioral Health Clinic on Erie Boulevard, the Syracuse VA, The Vet Center on Pine Street and at VanKeuren Square on East Genesee Street – all in Syracuse. When a month has a fifth Wednesday, the van stops at the former Big M in Morrisville and at American Legion Post 88 in Cazenovia.

“This van has been a tremendous asset to us, helping us connect Veterans in rural areas to our programs and services through our complimentary lunch,” said Clear Path’s Chief Operations Officer Alex Behm, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. “Although our staff of peer mentors travels extensively across the region, this van affords us the opportunity to bring veterans to us, to experience all that Clear Path has to offer: our staff, our programs, the serenity of our location. We are extremely grateful.”

In 2018, then newlyelected Oneida City Supervisor Tom Boylan – a U.S. Marine Corps veteran – recognized the need to transport veterans from the county’s rural areas to Clear Path’s facility. Boylan approached Roger Burdick, president and owner of Driver’s Village in Cicero, to cover half of the anticipated $30,000 needed for the van. The county ultimately approved funding of $17,300 toward the purchase, and in the summer of 2018 the van was delivered. Driver’s Village also covered the cost of a full-color vehicle wrap of the Clear Path logo and contact information.

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