COLUMBUS, Ohio — After meeting a homeless veteran along a river, one Ohio man was inspired to start a business. 

What You Need To Know

  • Joe Daley goes to the Scioto River to find and make walking sticks

  • That's where he met a veteran, and "River Walking Sticks" was born

  • Daley is planning to donate to two veteran charities: The "Save-a-Warrior Foundation" and "Faith Missions." For more information, click here

Joe Daley said he’s been going to the Scioto River in Columbus for years. 

“I would just walk the bank for hours and look for sticks to sand and finish. It’s very relaxing and therapeutic,” said Daley.

When he met a veteran, he offered him the money he had in his pocket. The veteran didn’t feel comfortable taking it, so Daley proposed a deal. 

“I said how about you finish these walking sticks for me and I’ll pay you. So, I left them with him, came back and picked them up and they looked great,” said Daley.

That’s when the idea for “River Walking Sticks” was born. The business makes custom high-end, custom made sticks, with a special touch. 

The sticks feature embeded military buttons. He also hires veterans, like Ken Watters, who was a Staff Sgt. in the U.S. Army. He’s been working with Daley since the start. 

“For a couple of months we were trying to decide how to do things, how to get things rolling,” said Watters. “Joe’s the big guy on that. I’m just the installer.”

Watters said he’s grateful for the business and for Daley. 

“As a veteran, I’ve had some rough times. He’s been the answer for a lot of them. He makes me feel good and so does doing this for other veterans, helping people, helping homeless people.”    

Daley is planning to donate to two veteran charities: The "Save-a-Warrior Foundation" and "Faith Missions." For more information visit https://riverwalkingsticks.com. 

Aug. 6 EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been corrected to reflect that Ken Watters was not the veteran at the Scioto River.