Mike DeAntonio, Theodore Young and Bobie Smith, from left, walk around the professional buildings at Eastgate Wednesday, participating in a two kilometer walk to raise money and awareness for veterans.HOW TO HELPWho: Karen Carnes, volunteer coordinator at Chattanooga VA Outpatient ClinicWhat: To donate items or volunteer at events for homeless veteransPhone: 423-893-6500, dial 0 for operator.
More than 75 workers and military veteran supporters took a short walk Wednesday to bring attention to two problems for veterans – physical fitness and homelessness.
In the first local VA2k at the Veterans Outpatient Clinic off Brainerd Road, volunteers came alone and in four-person teams. Some women wore tutus and tiaras; others came in khaki pants and tennis shoes.
The event was organized by the Department of Veterans Affairs to educate veterans about keeping physically fit and to draw attention to the clinic’s programs for homeless veterans.
Case manager Chris Atkins sees 1,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans a year in his work at the clinic.