COAT COLLECTION FOR HOMELESS VETERANS

From now until October 26, the Woodridge Rotary Club is collecting clean, gently used coats, gloves, and scarves for homeless veterans.  Especially needed this year are men’s coats in large and extra-large sizes.  The coats will be distributed in November on Stand Down Day.  Stand Downs were started in 1988 by the Department of Veterans Affairs in an effort to provide services to homeless veterans in a concentrated period of time.  Homeless veterans are provided health screenings, VA and Social Security benefits counseling, and referrals to other service agencies.  In Woodridge, Bess Mocek State Farm Agency and Collision Centers of America are coordinating collection efforts along with the Woodridge VFW and several of the Rotary club members’ businesses and organizations. 

An updated list of locations and addresses for coat drop boxes will be found at www.woodridgerotary.org.   Locations include Bridgeview Bank on Hobson, Woodridge Park District, Woodridge Village Hall and Public Works offices, Wilton Brands, Mocek State Farm, Woodridge Public Library, Illinois American Water, Dr. Rob Girgis’s office, and Shanahan’s in Woodridge.

Woodridge Rotary Club is doing this in conjunction with other Rotary District 6450 clubs.  Rotary is an international humanitarian service organization whose motto is Service Above Self.