St. Joseph and St.

Aidans Episcopal Church

Christmas Gift Drive for Homeless Veterans and Wounded Soldiers

Sunday, Dec. 11 4:00 pm

2453 Oak Street (at Greenwood Ave.) Blue Island Illinois 60406
708-528-9862 revrod@comcast.net The Holidays can be lonely times for homeless veterans. Thousands of unemployed and homeless veterans fill Chicago area VA hospitalized and homeless shelters. Men and women who courageously served our country now struggle for survival on Chicagos freezing winter streets. Lets give our homeless Veterans the help they need to survive. Please contribute to the annual St. Joseph and St. Aidans Christmas Gift Drive for Homeless Veterans and Wounded Soldiers. Share your Christmas Joy by making up a care package for a homeless veteran. The vets need simple survival gearnew or used warm clothing, coats, sweaters, hats, gloves, and scarves. They also need shaving kits, personal care items, books and bus passes. Members of our church are knitting scarves, hats and blankets for the vets. What can your church, school, or organization do to help a needy veteran? Starting on December 1, you can bring your gifts to St. Joseph and St. Aidans Church, at the corner of Greenwood and Oak in Blue Island. (Please call ahead at 708-528-9862) Our drive culminates with a big holiday party on Sunday, December 11 at 4:00 pm. There will be music, food and good times. Representatives from Jesse Brown VA Medical Center and Hines VA Hospital will be on hand to receive all the gifts you give. By the next day, your gifts will be in the hands a needy and homeless veteran. The average life span of a homeless vet is just thirty-five years. Lets give them a few more years of life. Last years gift drive was a huge success. Because of the generous people of Blue Island and people all over Greater Chicago, we donated four truckloads of gifts and survival gear to Chicagos big VA hospitals. We even had plenty of gifts for the vets and the Manteno VA Retirement Home. Your generosity was crucial for the survival of hundreds of struggling and homeless veterans. We know we can count on you again this year. Lets do what we can to share the joy of Christmas with the vets who need so much. Peace and Blessings, The Rev. Rod Reinhart Pastor of St. Joseph and St. Aidans Church, Blue Island IL Rector of St. Clements Church, Harvey IL
Sponsors. St. Joseph and St. Aidans Church, Blue Island IL, St. Clements Church, Harvey IL, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Hines VA Hospital, VITAS, People Who Care Fund, The Episcopal Veterans Fellowship, The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, St. James Cathedral, Sheriff Tom Dart and the Cook County Sheriffs Department, Veterans Community Service Alliance, The Veterans Strike Force, The Vet 2 Vet TV Show, Faith on the Front Line, WBGX AM1570