Above / Thanks for donating clean, gently-used men’s coats in sizes M, L, XL, XXL and XXXL for Stand Down Day on Nov. 10, 2015. Large sizes help men layer clothing for added warmth.
One of Rotary District 6450’s most successful programs in recent years has been to assist with Stand Down Day in Chicago. Naperville’s three Rotary clubs are listed within Rotary District 6450 as members of Rotary International.
For the fourth time, this year on Tues., Nov. 10, 2015, Rotary clubs have joined together collecting coats, hats and gloves for veterans. Hines V.A. Hospital and Jesse Brown Veteran Affair Medical Centers, several Chicago area veteran groups, and community organizations participate at this event. Many local Rotary clubs throughout Chicagoland are supporting this effort again this year, organizers said.
Previously, the event was organized for 22 years by local veterans. Organizers expect to serve approximately 1,000 homeless veterans on Nov. 10 as they gear up for the harsh 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.
Since this year’s Stand Down Day is the day before Veterans Day, meals also will be served to veterans.
Volunteer Nov. 10
The goal for 2015 is 1,000 new or gently-used coats in addition to new hats and gloves. All interest, donations and volunteers are appreciated on Tuesday, November 10.
Two volunteer shifts are available on November 10 from 7:30AM to 10:30AM and 9:30AM to 1PM.
Volunteer for Set-up Day Nov. 9
One volunteer shift is slated on Mon., November 9 from 10AM to 1PM.
Sign up for volunteering by going to www.rotarydistrict6450.org and click on Calendar on the left hand side of the page and go to November 9 or 10. 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. For info, contact Ossyra at rachelmarieo@hotmail.com.
Coats may be dropped off at three Naperville loctions.
- School District 203 Administrative Office – 203 W. Hillside, Naperville (Julie Carlsen)
- Naperville Township – 139 Water Street, Naperville (Rachel Ossyra)
- Fair Oaks Ford Lincoln – 2055 W. Ogden & 1351 E. Ogden, Naperville (Liz & Norm Zienty)
Rotarians are grateful that Reebie Storage and Moving (Jackson merged with Reeibe) of Naperville provides space for all the coats to be sorted, boxed, and shrink wrapped and then transported to the Armory. Special coat drop off days are available.
For more info, contact Co-Chairs Mary Dougherty, Rotary Club of Aurora at msd2050@aol.com or Pat Merryweather, Rotary Club of Naperville at dg6450pat@aol.com.
Stand Down Day in Chicago
On Tues., Nov. 10, 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, 22 veterans commit suicide – of which the majority are veterans from the Vietnam war. It was only within the past 6 years 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.
The drive is in need of clean, gently-used men’s coats in sizes M, L, XL, XXL, and XXXL. The veterans are use to layering their clothes for the harsh winter streets of Chicago which is why the very large sizes are requested.
VFW coordinates Naperville Township Drop-off site
In conjunction with the Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873, Naperville Township again is participating in collecting articles of clothing for homeless veterans, both male and female, to give on Stand Down Day in Chicago.
As in the past, the Naperville Township building located at 139 Water Street will serve as a convenient drop off point in downtown Naperville for donations of sweaters, blankets, coats, gloves, hats, boots, sleeping bags, personal care products, socks, etc., before Oct. 31.
Naperville Township office hours are 8:30AM to 4:30PM, Monday through Friday.
Judd Kendall VFW Drop-off Site
According to Veterans Advocate Mike Barbour, gently used mens’ and womens’ winter clothing also can be dropped off at the Judd Kendall VFW Post by Nov. 6. The VFW is located at 906 W. Jackson Avenue.
Barbour also notes that Naperville veterans will help deliver clothing down to the Armory on Nov. 9. Drivers are needed at 9AM. They expect to depart from Chicago for home at 1PM.
“We realize that there are many events happening around that time, school visits, Healing Field, etc.,” said Barbour. “For that reason we ask if you can help on Monday it would be greatly appreciated by both the Post Committee Chairman and our less fortunate brothers.”
For more information, contact Barbour at (630) 355-2786 X4407.
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.
The clothing was distributed to the veterans during Stand Down Day on Nov. 8, at the Humboldt Park Armory in Chicago.
The concept of “stand down” comes from the military practice of removing exhausted combat units from the field of battle to a place of relative safety where they can rest and recover. Stand Down Day represents that safe haven for homeless veterans.
“Rotarians are responding quite well to making sure that all homeless veterans are provided with coats and warm clothing for the winter,” noted then-Rotary International District 6450 Governor Pat Merryweather. “Rotary Clubs throughout the area were deeply concerned and motivated when they learned that, last year, only 75 coats were available for distribution on Stand Down Day, and 850 homeless vets came to the armory that day for support.”
Rotary’s efforts are the result of a phone call that the district governor made to the VA earlier in 2012. Merryweather, the mother of two sons who have served in combat, had listened to then-Rotary International president, Sakuji Tanaka, as he unveiled Rotary’s 2012-2013 theme, “Peace through Service.” Having grown up in Japan after World War II, he expressed that peace was not just the absence of war. Peace also meant healing old wounds.
Recognizing that there were still many unhealed wounds for our veterans, Merryweather made a call to the Oak Park Vet Center and asked what Rotary could do to help. When a request was made for coats, Merryweather knew that area Rotary Clubs would respond whole-heartedly, and they have.
“In the past we have been able to provide hats, gloves, scarves and more for veterans who attend the Stand Down, but sadly we have not always had enough winter coats to go around,” said Dr. Jean Douglas at Oak Park VA Center. “Veterans stand in line for several hours to get into the Stand Down, and it is dreadful to have to turn some of them away without coats. We are most grateful to the Rotary Clubs for their interest in this project and willingness to take on the challenge to provide coats for this event.”
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.
