By Ken Jones, Owner at Flamingo Custom Carts
Published Updated
At Flamingo Custom Carts, we believe that meaningful business goes beyond products and services. It’s also our social responsibility to give back to the communities we serve. On Monday, May 19, 2025, we proudly made a golf cart donation, a fully restored cart, to the Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center to assist in transporting patients across the facility grounds.
Supporting Our Veterans with Mobility and Dignity
When representatives from the VA Medical Center reached out to inquire about the cost of purchasing a golf cart for internal patient transport, we immediately saw an opportunity to do something impactful. At that time, we were fortunate to have a cart in our shop that could be refurbished and repurposed for this exact need. Rather than providing a quote, we made the decision to donate the cart.
This gesture aligns with our core values: service, community, and gratitude, especially to those who have served our country. The cart will be used to assist veterans and patients moving to and from the parking garage and throughout the VA campus, easing what can often be a difficult and tiring process.
All photos © 2025 Flamingo Custom Carts / Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center
What Makes This Cart Special
This wasn’t just a leftover model. We took the time to repair, customize, and ensure the vehicle was safe and reliable, equipping it with features ideal for practical, everyday use across a medical facility. Our team worked quickly to make sure it was delivered in excellent condition, both functionally and visually.
Serving Georgia With Purpose
Whether we’re delivering a luxury golf cart to a client in Marietta or donating a restored cart to a community in need, our commitment remains the same: to make a positive difference—one ride at a time.
We’re honored to serve our local heroes at the Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center, and we extend our sincere thanks to their team for the important work they do every day.
📍 Based in Marietta, GA | Serving Veterans and Communities Across Georgia
🔗 Learn more about who we are and what we stand for at Flamingo Custom Carts
About the Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center
The medical center in Decatur serves veterans across metro Atlanta and north Georgia. It was renamed in 2022 to honor Max Cleland, the Georgia native, Vietnam veteran, former head of the Veterans Administration and former U.S. senator. For a campus that sees a steady flow of patients and families every day, simple mobility help makes a real difference, which is why this golf cart donation mattered to our team.
What a Golf Cart Refurbishment Usually Involves
A golf cart donation only helps if the cart is safe and dependable on day one. When a cart comes through our shop for reconditioning, the work typically covers the systems that matter most for daily use:
- Batteries and charging. Testing the pack under load, replacing weak batteries and confirming the charger matches the pack.
- Brakes and steering. Inspecting pads, cables and linkages so the cart stops and turns predictably with passengers aboard.
- Tires and wheels. Checking tread, sidewalls and pressure for smooth rides on sidewalks and parking lots.
- Seats and safety items. Replacing torn upholstery, checking grab handles and making sure lights and horns work.
- Cleaning and finish. A deep clean and cosmetic refresh so the cart looks as good as it runs.
Keeping a Refurbished Golf Cart Dependable
Whether a cart arrives through a golf cart donation or a purchase, a facility gets the most from it with a simple care routine. These habits keep a refurbished golf cart safe for passengers and ready when staff need it:
- Charge after every shift. Plug in at the end of each day, even after light use, and avoid letting the pack run nearly empty.
- Check tire pressure weekly. Low tires make the motor work harder, shorten range and make steering heavier for drivers.
- Walk around before the first ride. Look for loose seats, damaged mirrors, frayed cables and anything leaking under the cart.
- Keep batteries clean and dry. On lead-acid carts, check water levels monthly and clean corrosion from terminals; lithium packs need far less attention.
- Test brakes and the horn daily. A cart that carries patients should stop smoothly and be heard in busy walkways.
- Store it out of the weather. Shade and shelter protect seats, wiring and batteries from Georgia heat and rain.
- Schedule a yearly inspection. A once-a-year check of brakes, steering, suspension and the electrical system catches small problems early.
Facilities that follow a routine like this often get many years of service from a well-refurbished cart, which makes every golf cart donation go further.
Why a Golf Cart Donation Fits a Hospital Campus
Learn more about the Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center and the veterans it serves.
Large medical campuses have long walks between parking areas, entrances and clinics. A quiet electric cart gives staff a simple way to help patients and visitors who have trouble with distance, without adding traffic to the main roads around the building.
Have a cart that needs reconditioning? See our custom golf cart services and lithium battery upgrades, or call (678) 436-2282.
