WARSAW — On Nov. 7, North Central Indiana Housing participated in Stand Down, sponsored by Goodwill Industries, at Center Lake Pavilion in Warsaw.

The event provided veterans a day to visit with local agencies they can receive services from. NCIH is comprised of housing agencies. Warsaw Housing Authority can provide rental assistance for families living in Kosciusko County, Marshall County, Fulton County and the city of Goshen. Housing Opportunities of Warsaw provides home rehab programs, Aging in Place retrofits to homes and many educational classes on home ownership and home maintenance in Kosciusko County.

The event provided NCIH with a day to visit with local vets and explain services. Karen Smith, a local homeowner and quilter, has attended classes. She has a special place in her heart for veterans. When she discovered NCIH was having a booth at Stand Down, she donated 200 crocheted stocking caps, an afghan and a lap quilt.

Every vet who stopped at the booth received a hat and signed up for a drawing for the afghan and quilt.

Dyrell Kreis, Claypool, was the winner for the lap quilt. Kreis served in the Vietnam War as an engineer in the 1960s. He grew up in Claypool and graduated from Claypool High School.

Ricky Beaver, Syracuse, won the afghan. Beaver lives with his wife Karen and their dog, Wishbone. He served in the 7th Special Forces Group from 1979 to 1997, as first class sergeant. Beaver was stationed in Somalia, Panama and served in Desert Storm.

NCIH was honored to meet the local veterans and thank Karen Smith who devotes time every day to honor them.