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

ShelterBox https://shelterboxusa.org/
First Woman of Television: https://northlight.org/series/first-lady-of-television/
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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,