By Ben Rodgers
Editor

HOBART – A trailer full of winter clothes from area residents was loaded up on Sunday, Oct. 7, at Stadium View on its way to the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King.

Rolling Thunder Chapter 3 facilitated a winter clothing drive in Hobart and those donations were handed off to the Patriot Guard Riders for their Share the Warmth campaign.

“This year I know I must of had two dozen or more brand new coats,” said Mary Smith, Rolling Thunder Chapter 3 member and Hobart village clerk/treasurer. “So people were actually purchasing new clothes to give, which blows me away. It was really nice.”

This is the second year Rolling Thunder has accepted donations at the Hobart Village Hall. Smith said every donation there makes a difference.

“When you go to King and visit the veterans facility up there and the residents come out and thank you for what you’ve done for them and the fact that they have not been forgotten, that’s what’s amazing,” Smith said.

Rolling Thunder and the Patriot Guard Riders share the same mission, to make sure every veteran is remembered for what they’ve gave.

“All you have to do is look at the expression on their faces and that’s enough to tell you you’ve just done the right thing,” said Mark Goebel, Patriot Guard Riders assistant state captain and Share the Warmth organizer. “It’s just good for your heart and good for your soul.”

Hobart joins other communities from across Wisconsin that have donated for the Share the Warmth campaign.
Goebel said donations also came from the Appleton, Milwaukee and Madison areas as well as the western part of the state.

“It can only happen because of all the generous people out there that give,” Goebel said.

Last year nearly 4,000 clothing items were donated for veterans and their families. Goebel isn’t sure on this year’s numbers yet, but that’s not important to him.

“I never try to speculate,” he said. “We just take it all as it comes in. Every piece we get helps a veteran stay warm, so we’re just thankful and grateful for everything we get.”

Goebel said the Patriot Guard Riders have no intention to slow down until every veteran and their families are warm in the winter. He said that isn’t that far from being accomplished.

“If every individual would go through their closets and take one item, a good used winter jacket, gloves, boots, etc., we could keep them all warm,” he said. “It’s just a matter of people making time to do that.”

When the clothes are dropped off later this year at the veterans home near Waupaca, that’s when all the work comes to fruition, Goebel said.

“When you can just see the expression and the gratitude, and what this does is it just brings hope to them to let them know that they’re not forgotten,” he said.