Coat drive for Utah homeless veterans

  • Published
  • By Lee Anne Hensley
  • Standard-Examiner writer
The Utah Veteran's homepage, UtVet.com, estimates that there are 2,395 military veterans who are homeless in Utah, with more than 5,000 veterans expected to be homeless at some point during the year. At this time of year, homelessness can be harsh and deadly.

The Hill Air Force Base 729th Air Control Squadron and other supporting squadrons are alleviating the harshness of winter for their military predecessors by hosting a coat drive.

"The coats on their backs are keeping them alive against the brutal winter we're in," says Tech. Sgt. Jesse Bunck, one of the coat drive organizers for the 729th ACS.

The 729th ACS and other squadrons are collecting warm clothing until Jan. 8 and will give all donations to the Ogden Homeless Veteran's Fellowship and the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salt Lake City.

To find out where the nearest drop-off location is, contact the following organizers:

729th ACS: Tech. Sgt. Jesse Bunck, 777-4293, and Staff Sgt. Aileena Audiss, 777-0624.

649th Combat Logistics Support Squadron: Master Sgt. James Jordan at 777-8072

75th Operations Support Squadron: Tech. Sgt. Susan Secora at 777-2018.

388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron: Senior Airman Jason Smith and Master Sgt. James Mysliwski at 777-6409.