CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Veterans Affairs Clinic has received a grant that will assist in making sure veterans around Lake County can get to the facility for medical services.

At a ceremony held last Friday at the clinic – located at 15145 Lakeshore Drive – a $5,000 grant was presented to clinic officials.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. donated the funds through the American Red Cross of Sonoma, Mendocino & Lake Counties, according to Red Cross spokesperson Kristie Fry.

The assistance is being offered as part of the Red Cross' Service to Armed Forces initiative, the organization reported.

“We have a very storied history with veterans, starting back with Clara Barton and the Civil War,” Fry said of the Red Cross.

Red Cross has had a successful program in Santa Rosa that assists veterans in getting to medical care, and they were looking to offer similar assistance in Lake County, she said.

Fry said the Red Cross contacted the Clearlake VA Clinic and found that a transportation assistance program would be helpful in Lake County, as some veterans have difficulty getting to the clinic. PG&E wanted to be a part of the effort, and donated the $5,000.

Bus passes and taxi vouchers will be offered to qualifying veterans to help them get to the Clearlake clinic, Fry said. Social workers at the clinic will screen vets to determine financial need and eligibility.

“That's one way that we're bridging a gap,” said Fry.

As the need presents itself and continues, the Red Cross and PG&E want to continue to offer help. As such, the hope is that the grant can be made annually, Fry said.

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