Blues musicians, vendors, volunteers and various organizations gathered Saturday at the West End Fairgrounds in Gilbert to raise money for the Valor Clinic Foundation.

In previous years, the fundraiser was held inside American Legions and 200 tickets were presold. This year event planners had to move it outside and set up safety measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Twenty-five people walked the Military Mile and were pretty stunned by the statistics on the posters,” said Beth Lutz, Valor’s fundraising coordinator since January and a volunteer in various capacities for four years. “Twenty-two veterans a day lose their battle at home, and we are here to let people know that this needs to change, that there is help and there is a better way.”

Mike Meining, veteran outreach coordinator, was one of the Valor volunteers collecting bags of nonperishable canned and boxed foods at the admission gate.

“Some of this food will be used for Thanksgiving meals and some will go to our stand-down events, where we go to homeless camps to look for veterans and others who need our help. We don’t turn anyone away,” Meining said.

In areas like Stroudsburg and the Lehigh Valley, stand downs occur monthly.

“We have many opportunities to donate and volunteer. Food and hygiene items are always needed,” Lutz said.

They are currently accepting donations for the holiday meal program, where they provide an entire holiday meal to a veteran whose family is struggling. Holiday meals are provided at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, she said.

Blues musicians James Supra, Sarah Ayers and the band performed for the small crowd throughout the afternoon.

“Although we didn’t have the turnout we hoped for, the people who came seemed to enjoy themselves and learn a lot about Valor, which is important,” Lutz said.

Kids walked through a maze of hay bales to collect Halloween candy. Many vendors also had bowls of candy at their tables.

The vendors offered everything from an historical presentation on 32nd President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Scentsy candles, from Valor memorabilia to bottles of wine from Sleepy Cat Winery, and from political signs to wood carvings from Darren Yurkunas.

He has owned Bearly Get’n By for 10 years, and it remains his side gig.

He has carved bears, turtles, crabs and many other things.

“I like to do different ideas and challenge myself,” he said.

He gets a lot of custom orders, especially at Christmastime.

“They want a wood carving of their deceased dogs. They give me a picture.”

For any design, he said it takes a week from start to finish to create the design, carve it and add the coating.

His wife, Louise, makes an assortment of wall hangings. She had a Halloween one containing a spider and skeleton on display, as well as patriotic ones with red, white and blue ribbons displayed.

To donate throughout the year or learn more about the Valor Clinic Foundation: https://valorclinic.org.

“Volunteering one time is sometimes the most valuable thing someone can do. Anything from our homeless outreach stand downs to helping at Paul’s House in Jonas,” Lutz said.