March 28, 2024

Events relating to Jasper County’s veterans planned

The Jasper County Veteran’s Affairs Office wants to make the community aware of several events taking place to aid and support veterans.

Currently, the office is collecting adult clothing and non-perishable food items in conjunction with Newton American Legion Post 111 to help clothe and feed homeless veterans. The collected items will be placed in a “ruck” and will be carried by local volunteers; Jasper County Veteran’s Affairs Director Chris Chartier, Army veteran Kaylor Supinya Dake, Army veteran Jason McCaughye and Navy veteran Brock Walaska.

The volunteers will carry the items during the In My Boots 5K Run, Walk, Ruck at McHose Park in Boone on April 19. All proceeds of the event will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, and donations will be given to homeless veterans.

Donations may be dropped off at the Jasper County Veteran’s Affairs Office located at 115 N. Second Ave. E. in Newton. You may contact the office at (641) 792-7993.

On Saturday, the Legion will play host to the “Second Chance Prom” fundraiser to the support the upcoming Jasper County Veteran’s Memorial Complex on the courthouse lawn. There will be a social hour from 6 to 7 p.m., and afterwards the dance floor will open up with as a collection of hits from the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s will be played.

The cost is $20 per couple and it is an all ages affair. For more information, you may contact (641) 792-0396.

Iowa’s Department of Veteran’s Affairs will be holding a Veterans Career Fair on April 24, at the Freedom Center in Fort Dodge. Although the event is being held outside of Jasper County, Chartier highly recommended local veterans seeking employment or interested in changing professions attend.

More than 30 vendors will be present at the fair and it is being done in conjunction with Home Base Iowa, a program launched by the state to help veterans find jobs and to attract unemployed veterans to seek career opportunities in Iowa.

Senior staff writer Ty Rushing may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 426, or at trushing@newtondailynews.com.