District IV DAR Daughters Support Chicago Standdown

The Chicago Standdown has been serving Chicago area veterans since 1993.

The nonprofit, Chicago Veterans Economic Development Council, has developed a strong group of community agencies, federal agencies, veterans service organizations, corporations and volunteers that offer two Standdowns each year in the Chicago area. The Summer Standdown is typically offered on the south side of Chicago and provides the widest range of services possible for two days. The Winter Standdown is generally on the north side of Chicago and is a one-day event intended to prepare homeless veterans for the difficult winter months, focusing on winter clothing and housing resources.

The Illinois State Organization, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) District IV Daughters has partnered with the Chicago Standdown for several years and support both summer and winter events. The Chicago Standdown has come to rely on the generosity of the DAR to provide socks. The number one requested item for a person that's homeless. The DAR provides not only socks, but hats and scarfs for the winter standdown.

The Standdown "set-up" day was held on Thursday Oct. 27, 2022. District IV Daughters, spear headed by Mary Arvidson, Retired U.S. Navy Master Chief and a member of the Eli Skinner Chapter in Arlington Heights, helped set up the DAR sock tables. On Friday Oct. 28, 2022, over 400 homeless veterans arrived at the Northwest Armory in Chicago to receive a multitude of items to help them through the harsh Chicago winter months. They received duffle bags, boots, coats, clothing, outdoor gear, socks, hats, scarfs, food, a meal and comradery from fellow veterans. Volunteers from District IV, including our District IV Director Susan Snow, were on hand all day and distributed 7 pairs of socks to each veteran and each veteran was able to choose their own hats and scarfs.

29 Illinois DAR Chapters make up District IV, the largest District in the state. The Daughters collected over 3000 pairs of socks, 1200 hats and scarfs. The Libertyville based Ansel Brainerd Cook Chapter donated nearly 1000 pairs of socks, and 125 handmade hat and scarf sets.

As the veterans made their way around the Northwest Armory collecting various items, each station "Thanked" them for their service. Their laughs, smiles and endless gratitude was abundant. They especially thanked us for the handmade hats and scarfs that the District IV Daughters had lovingly made for them.

The Ansel Brainerd Chapter, NSDAR, is celebrating its 45th year. The chapter was organized in September 1977 in Libertyville by 17 members. The chapter has now grown to include more than 175 members. In 2021, the ABC chapter members logged in 7,705 volunteer hours in the communities in which we work and live.

For more information about the Ansel Brainerd Cook Chapter, please visit:

https://ildar.org/chapters/anselbrainerdcook or e-mail us at: ABC4DAR@gmail.com

For information on the Chicago Standdown, visit www.chicagostanddown.org