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Naperville Rotary Clubs organize local coat collection for Stand Down Day in Chicago

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Above / Thanks for donating clean, gently-used men’s coats in sizes L, XL, XXL, XXXL and XXXXL for Stand Down Day on Nov. 18, 2016.  Large sizes help men and women layer clothing for added warmth.

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Three Rotary Clubs of Naperville are collecting coats for Stand Down Day.

If the dip in the temperature has thoughts turning toward checking out the hall closet to make sure overcoats are cleaned and ready for winter, consider that some of the rarely worn coats just hanging there could be put to better use.

The Chicagoland Rotary Homeless Veterans Coat Drive and Stand Down Day returns on Nov 18, 2016.

For the fifth time, local Rotary clubs have joined together collecting coats, hats and gloves for veterans. The community is welcome to participate.

“Alma Jones and I are coordinating the Naperville Area coat collection,” said Rachel Ossyra, member of the Rotary Club of Naperville. “We’ll have collection boxes at School District 203 Office, Fair Oaks Ford Lincoln locations and the Naperville Township Office from Oct. 17 until Nov. 11.”

The drive is in need of 800 clean, gently-used men’s coats in sizes M, L, XL, XXL, and XXXL. Women’s sizes XL, XXL and XXXL also are welcome this year. The veterans are accustomed to layering their clothes for the harsh winter streets of Chicago which is why the very large sizes are requested.

“No leather coats, please,” said Ossyra. “We simply want warm cloth coats in large sizes mostly for men and also women.”

How Stand Down Day works at Humboldt Park Armory

Many local Rotary clubs throughout Chicagoland are supporting this effort again this year, Ossyra said. In recent years, the coat drive has become one of Rotary District 6450’s most successful programs. Naperville’s three Rotary clubs are listed within Rotary District 6450, the birthplace of Rotary International.

Before Rotary signed on to help, the coat collection was organized for 22 years by local veterans. Organizers expect to serve between 1,000 homeless veterans on Nov. 18 as they gear up for winter months ahead.

On Stand Down Day, organizers set up the coats on clothing racks organized by size and assist the veterans in selecting a coat and helping them try them on. The veterans then get winter clothing, social service support for housing and food, haircuts, and a warm meal.

Organizers also are encouraging people to volunteer at the Stand Down Day Nov. 18 or set up Nov. 17 at the Humboldt Park Armory. Sign up is through the Rotary District 6450 website www.rotarydistrict6450.org.
The Chicago event is organized and staffed by volunteers from veteran organizations, community and social service organizations, and Hines VA and Jesse Brown VA.

Humboldt Park Armory is located at 1551 N. Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, IL 60651.

Volunteer Nov. 18

The goal for 2016 is 800 new or gently-used coats in addition to new hats and gloves. All interest, donations and volunteers are appreciated on Fri., November 18.

Two volunteer shifts are available on November 18 from 7:30AM to 10:30AM and 10AM to 1PM.

Volunteer for Set-up Day Nov. 17

One volunteer shift is slated on Thurs., November 17 from 10AM to 1PM.

Sign up for volunteering by going to www.rotarydistrict6450.org. Individuals will be contacted one week before the event with additional volunteer information.

Local drop off for coats 

The Naperville area coordinator is Rachel Ossyra of the Rotary Club of Naperville.

Coats may be dropped off at three Naperville loctions.

  • School District 203 Administrative Office – 203 W. Hillside, Naperville
  • Naperville Township – 139 Water Street, Naperville
  • Fair Oaks Ford Lincoln – 2055 W. Ogden & 1351 E. Ogden, Naperville

For more info, contact Ossyra at rachelmarieo@hotmail.com.

Stand Down Day in Chicago

On Fri., Nov. 18, Rotarians, Interact students and faculty, and friends of Rotary will join with the Veterans Administration (VA) and many veteran community organizations to support the homeless veterans and prepare them for the winter.

Here’s why… Every day, 20 veterans commit suicide – of which the majority are veterans from the Vietnam war. It was only within the past decade that conditions like PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and conditions from Agent Orange were viewed as after-effects of the war. As a result, many veterans have gone untreated for these conditions for decades. It is very difficult for the Veterans Administration (VA) to get homeless veterans off the street that have lived on the streets for decades. Yet, they continue to try by providing them with one-on-one consultation and supportive services.

During the winter Stand Down Day, Rotarians will be in charge of the coat center, the most popular area for veterans. The veterans will start lining up around 3AM  and will be ready for coats when the doors open at 8AM. Volunteers also will help the veteran select a coat and help them try them on as many are also suffering from physical limitations, with some in wheel chairs.

Overview of first Rotary event in 2012

Rotary Clubs throughout the Chicago region coordinated a massive campaign in support of the area’s homeless veterans.  City by city, clubs collected approximately 1,500 clean, lightly-used winter coats, blankets, hats, gloves, and new long underwear to bring comfort and warmth to the homeless servicemen and women who are too often cold and forgotten.

Working with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other organizations, the Rotary Clubs enlisted the support of numerous corporations in this important undertaking.

Volunteers helped with the sorting of the coats and to assist on Stand Down Day.  Funds were accepted to help purchase new gloves, hats, underwear and blankets at www.chicagolandrotary.org.

For more information, contact District 6450 co-chairs Mary Dougherty of Aurora Rotary Club at msd2050@aol.com and Pat Merryweather of Rotary Club of Naperville at dg6450pat@aol.com.

Updated list of local coat drop off locations as of Oct. 22, 2016

  • School District 203 Administrative Office – 203 W. Hillside Rd, Naperville (Julie Carlsen)
  • Naperville Township – 139 Water St, Naperville (Rachel Ossyra)
  • Fair Oaks Ford Lincoln – 2055 W. Ogden & 1351 E. Ogden, Naperville (Liz & Norm Zienty)
  • Naperville Public Library – 200 W. Jefferson, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr, 2035 S. Naper Blvd (Julie Rothenfluh)
  • The Promenade Bolingbrook – 639 E. Boughton Rd at Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant
  • BMO Harris Bank (Naperville locations) – 503 N Washington St, 1284 Rickert Dr, 2975 Cedar Glade Dr, 320 W. Diehl Rd, 507 S. Washington St, 1795 S. Washington St (Neil McManus)

Drop off coats from now until Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

Remember to pause for a moment to reflect at 11AM Fri., Nov. 11 (“11-11-11”) to recognize all men and women veterans, past and present, who honorably have served this nation to help protect its freedom. In Naperville, a special observance with patriotic music performed by members of the Naperville Municipal Band is planned at Veterans Park across Gartner Road from Grace United Methodist Church.

Thanks for donating gently-used coats, all weights and large sizes.

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