A Summit County group that organizes a yearly event to help homeless and in-need veterans is worried it will be low on donations due to a massive warehouse fire.
"I'm very concerned, said Dale Luzader, who helps put together the Summit County Veterans Stand Down event. "We're getting a little bit, but not near what we need."
The need became greater after a fire ravaged a Department of Defense building last February in New Jersey, destroying many items that the DOD would have given to Stand Down.
"That was something we depended on greatly for boots and a lot of coats and those kind of things," said Larry Moore, Director of Summit County Veterans Service Commission. "There's not that large... what they call surplus supplies to call upon."
Stand Down is scheduled to take place September 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at VFW Post 3383 at 690 W. Waterloo Road.
About 400 veterans are expected to wait in line to get advice on benefits and receive donations like warm clothing and blankets to help them through the winter.
Luzader said the loss from the New Jersey fire is significant because Stand Down was counting on an estimated $700,000 worth of donated items from the building.
Organizers of Stand Down said they accept donations on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at their Akron warehouse located at 140 E. South Street.
