COVO Gives Thanks To Medical Van Supporters

Summer is always the perfect time for a barbecue, but Saturday, there was a special one in town for organizers of the Central Oregon Veterans Outreach medical van to say “thank you.”

COVO held a big barbecue at the VFW Hall in Bend in appreciation to all of those who helped with their mobile medical van.

In an effort to reach more veterans in need, the medical van has made stops throughout Bend the past few months.

The van is equipped with everything needed for medical examinations on the go. COVO also takes the van to various homeless camps.

Organizers say none of it would have been possible without help and support from the community.

“We’re having a recognition ceremony, and there are probably 45 certificates that we are giving out,” said COVO Executive Director Chuck Hemingway. “So it shows the depth and breadth of the community involvement, and it’s been ongoing to get this to be a really successful project.”

The COVO medical van has been out more than 21 times and has seen more than 400 patients.

The van will be at Bend’s Community Center Sunday morning for the Feed the Hungry program.

Organizers say they hope to have the medical van out once a week in the community.