10/16/2026
We cannot thank everyone involved enough.
Last Friday, Clothes For Joes sponsored the annual Stand Down for Vets in Allen County at the Grand Wayne Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
We were blessed with a VSO from Indianapolis who was able to make the trip up here to support the event. I wish we wouls have sent more work his way, but chaos overwhelmed the situation.
We cannot leave out the State DAV donating several boxes of clothing that we were able to bless those who stopped by our tables with.
DAV Auxiliary CDR Kimberly J Kumfer, Helped us out by being the primary fixture at the main table and handing out toiletry packets, while our past CDR Roy Vierck bounced between the hand-out table and info table answering questions.
David Wattley and Kevin Gorney did a great job helping keep the chaos to a minimum by helping with handing out clothing to those in need.
It was amazing to see that some veterans would make a couple trips to our table because they were getting donations for others that were waiting in the wings because they could not handle being in the crowd. Teamwork at its best!
We cannot forget Gerard Willis who helped me get all those boxes up here from Indianapolis. I know I could not have done it without him!
We still have about 1/3rd of the items left to hand out at future events.
Thank you to everyone involved! You do not know how much I appreciate your help and look forward to our next event.
Hopefully next time we may be a bit better organize, but overall, a successful mission!!!
~Jason Moose Smith
