Episode 14

full
Published on:

12th Nov 2025

Driving Route 66 to Hope: How One "Crazy" Man, a Vintage Chevy, and ShelterBox Are Changing Lives

A 70-year-old humanitarian, a 1953 Chevy truck, and Route 66 unite for ShelterBox. Don Crost drives 2,500 miles to spotlight disaster relief, friendship, and doing good, proving it is never too late to chase a purpose.

Join Daryn as Don shares why he set a $25,000 goal for ShelterBox’s 25th anniversary, how that vintage truck handled the journey from Evanston to Santa Barbara, and what ShelterBox delivers for families after hurricanes, earthquakes, and conflict, from tents and solar lights to shelter repair kits and mosquito nets. You will also hear from former CNN correspondent Paul Vercammen on pivoting to purpose and how ShelterBox assesses needs before deploying aid.

Along the road there were clever fixes, surprising generosity from strangers, and a travel partner who kept going after a rib injury, fueling a story about courage, community, and second-chance friendships.

What You Will Find in This Episode:

✅ The story behind Don Crost’s 2,500-mile drive in a vintage Chevy for ShelterBox’s 25th anniversary

✅ How a simple idea turned into a movement to help disaster survivors worldwide

✅ The inspiring friendship that reignited between Daryn and fellow journalist Paul Vercammen

✅ How ShelterBox provides real relief after hurricanes, earthquakes, and crises around the world

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Timestamps

  • 00:00 From Route 66 to Hope: How Don Crost, a Vintage Chevy, and ShelterBox Are Changing Lives
  • 00:23 The risk of listening: this story might push you to chase your dream
  • 01:24 Daryn’s early news days and friendship origins with Paul Vercammen
  • 06:02 Meet Don Crost: driving a 1953 chevy across Route 66 for ShelterBox
  • 08:44 What is ShelterBox and how it brings dignity to disaster survivors
  • 11:54 How a 70-year-old truck, driver, and partner survived the road
  • 12:31 Bubblegum fixes: diy gas cap, carb cover, window cranks
  • 14:55 Roadside kindness: strangers donate cash on the journey
  • 17:24 Why Don says “just do it” and how it changed his life
  • 19:21 Shout-out to friendship: Bonnie’s unstoppable positivity
  • 23:41 ShelterBox’s response to hurricane Melissa in Jamaica and the Bahamas
  • 26:01 Paul Vercammen’s pivot from CNN to purpose-driven humanitarian work
  • 29:22 Life after the newsroom: friendship, second chances, purpose


 Key Takeaways

💎 Purpose and passion don’t expire with age, it’s never too late to make a difference.

💎 ShelterBox brings dignity and relief to families displaced by disasters around the globe.

💎 Sometimes the craziest ideas, like driving a vintage truck across America,  inspire the biggest change.

💎 Friendships, both old and new, can spark extraordinary acts of good in the world.


Resources


About Our Guests

Don Crost – A lifelong Rotarian and humanitarian who drove a 1953 Chevy truck across Route 66 to raise awareness and funds for ShelterBox’s 25th anniversary campaign.

Paul Vercammen – Former CNN correspondent who transitioned to ShelterBox USA communications, turning breaking news skills into a mission of hope and impact.


friendship, ShelterBox, Route66, humanitarian stories, disaster relief, vintage Chevy, road trip inspiration, Paul Vercammen, Daryn Kagan, kindness, doing good, resilience, hope, second chances, nonprofit storytelling, Hurricane Melissa,

Transcript

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