La Grange American Legion Auxiliary seeks warm clothing for homeless and low-income veterans

A clothing drive to help homeless and low-income veterans will be held on Sunday, October 20, from 10 am until 4 pm by the American Legion Auxiliary in La Grange. Both everyday necessities and winter clothing for men and women are needed and can be brought to the Robert E Coulter, Jr, American Legion Post at 900 South La Grange Road in La Grange.   

Some supplies, such as underwear and toiletries, are distributed on a daily basis to low-income patients at Hines Veterans Affairs Medical Center, explained Crystal Deters, president of the American Legion Auxiliary in La Grange and a long-time volunteer at Hines VA Hospital. “The VA centers don’t provide personal care items to patients, so hospitalized veterans can receive toiletries, socks, or new underwear only thanks to donations,” Deters said.

Warm clothing will be distributed to homeless veterans during a Winter Stand Down on November 1. Stand Downs are special outreach events organized by the Department of Veterans Affairs that offer one-stop access to health care, social services, and employment resources to homeless or at-risk veterans.  “We typically can reach almost 800 at-risk veterans during a single Stand Down,” said William Baxter, LCSW, clinical manager of programs for homeless veterans at Hines VA Hospital.  About 5,400 homeless or at-risk veterans are living in the Chicago metro area and about 2,000 homeless veterans receive services annually at Hines, according to Baxter.

Basic comfort items needed include new underwear (boxers, briefs, T-shirts), white crew socks, sweatpants, and sweatshirts in sizes medium to 3XL as well as travel-sized containers of toiletries such as shampoo, body wash, and toothpaste. Cold-weather clothes needed include new or gently used and washed winter coats, hats, scarves, gloves, winter boots, and jeans. Gift cards ($25) for Target, Kohl’s, Walmart, and major gas stations are also requested. A complete list of requested items appears on the Auxiliary’s website at: www.auxiliary.al1941.org/news-and-events.html. For more information, contact Crystal at 630-667-4743 or by email at ala1941var@aol.com