Veterans help other vets find footing by donating shoes

In this photo taken on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015, twenty-five pairs of shoes purchased with money donated from Wal-Mart and other veterans, are displayed at the Veteran's Affair Medical Center, in Mountain Home, Tenn. The shoes will be donated to veterans in need of apparel. (David Floyd /The Johnson City Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT In this photo taken on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015, twenty-five pairs of shoes purchased with money donated from Wal-Mart and other veterans, are displayed at the Veteran's Affair Medical Center, in Mountain Home, Tenn. The shoes will be donated to veterans in need of apparel. (David Floyd /The Johnson City Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

By Associated Press August 15, 2015 3 min read

MOUNTAIN HOME, Tenn. (AP) – Steve Blevins can’t stand to see veterans go without necessary clothing.

But instead of waiting for a guardian angel to swoop in and magically solve the problem, he’s taken matters into his own hands.

“These guys are heroes, and most of the time they’re left out.” Blevins said.

Blevins, an Army veteran living at the James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, organized Veterans Helping Veterans with several friends in the center’s community living center to raise money to buy shoes and other apparel for veterans in need. The group received some extra help with a $100 donation from Wal-Mart, and members donated their own money to support comrades still trying to find their footing.

VA Secretary of Volunteer Service Robert McDilda said a couple of organizations have consistently donated shoes to the department, but they weren’t receiving enough to keep up with the center’s need.