RUTLAND, Mass. - The Christmas tree on the Rutland Town Common shines bright this time of year, and so does the fire which keeps Neil Viner warm at night.

"With the rain we've had recently, it's more like a raw feel to the air," Viner said Wednesday night. "Tonight, we've got a wind that's coming out of the north. And the wind just cuts through you."

What You Need To Know

  • Neil Viner will spend a week on the Rutland Town Common, sleeping in a tent

  • Viner is raising money for homeless veterans, specifically, to benefit Veterans Inc.

  • Viner has been doing the week-long camp out for nearly a decade

  • As he gets older, he said it has become a bit more of a challenge

A big tent sits on the common - it's Viner's home for the week. The Rutland native has made spending nights out in the cold an annual tradition. For him, it's a show of support for homeless veterans.

"There's so many homeless veterans out there and veterans in need, that need help and the more awareness that we can get out there, hopefully we can get more and more of them off the street over time," Viner said.

Viner covers the area in signage, hoping to get his message across to drivers and pedestrians alike. In his time outdoors, he collects money for Veterans Inc., hoping to help them as much as he can during the holiday season.

"It's been great," Viner said. "Young kids dropping off, you know, he had a quarter in his pocket and said, 'this is all I have.' I said, 'you just stopping is the reason why I'm here, to bring attention.'"

Viner has been camping out on the town's common for nearly a decade. He's not a veteran, but has several family members who are.

While never an easy thing to do, Viner admits, now in his mid 50s, it's not as much of a smooth ride as it once was.

"I want to keep it going as long as I can," Viner said. But, I think I am getting a bit older and I think the blood is getting a little thinner. The warmer temperatures, I think I start getting colder."

Raising awareness is Viner's main goal, but he said money is important. As Viner approaches the end of this year's endeavor, he has a message for the people of central Massachusetts.

"If you can spare some change and you see someone raising funds for veterans, stop," he said. "And if you can throw them a couple bucks, that couple dollars adds to more dollars, and it goes a long way with helping veterans."