ST. JOSEPH — Twenty-five volunteer drivers who ferry veterans to medical appointments were thanked Thursday by the Berrien County veterans service office during the Board of Commissioners meeting.

Most drivers attended, then went to Stevensville for an appreciation luncheon.

The program is a collaboration between the veterans office and Disabled American Veterans, which has provided vans for 14 years.

Lee Lull, director of the county veterans office, told commissioners there would be no transportation network without the volunteers, who can transport as many as eight veterans each weekday.

Last year, drivers logged 211 trips delivering 914 veterans from Berrien and Van Buren counties to the Veterans Administration medical center in Battle Creek.

This is in addition to trips made from the Niles Senior Center.

For 2012, through Dec. 6, 215 excursions helped 1,057 veterans keep their appointments.

The van picks up passengers  at Benton Harbor Senior Center, Shell on Napier Avenue in Benton Township, Coloma McDonald’s, Watervliet Burger King, Shell in Hartford, the Lawrence Waffle House and Copper Grille in Paw Paw.