Story submitted by Chris Gerrib:
Six members of the Rotary Club of Darien, including one friend, helped serve about 850 homeless veterans in the Chicago area earlier this month.
On Nov. 8, the local members joined more than 100 Rotarians to work at the Veterans Administration Homeless Vet Stand Down Day in Chicago. The event, which is conducted twice a year, works to locate and assist homeless veterans in the area.
The veterans are then fed a hot meal and give a shower and medical checkups. About 850 veterans were served.
The Rotary Club of Darien, as well as other clubs, had previously conducted a coat drive. They collected more than 3,000 coats, hats and gloves; 1,500 amenity kits and blankets; and 1,000 pairs of socks, all of which were donated to the veterans in attendance.
Excess items were then taken by the VA to distribute to their inpatient population.
The Darien club was represented at this half-day-long event by Rotarians Joan Wayman, Ron Broida, Rob Ferrigan, JoAnne Ragona, Tom Ostrowski and friend of Rotary Kathy Hill.
For more information about Darien Rotary, visit the club’s web site at www.darienrotaryclub.org. For more information about the veterans stand down, visit http://www.hines.va.gov/services/hchv.asp.
