MILWAUKEE — A Wisconsin veteran in need received quite the outpouring of support from his local community. All it took was a simple post online to give him a blessing he will never forget.
Each week, the community room in Don Williams apartment complex is filled with the sound of music. The sound of guitars syncing together as Jean Kloke teaches Don how to play.
This pair has been working together for the past four years, Jean is an instructor with Guitars for Vets and
Don is a Vietnam vet, who is legally blind. And although their relationship formed with music, over time these two consider themselves brother and sister.
“He is just a sweet man. All of my vets...and I call them all of my vets…are my brothers,” Guitars for Vets Instructor, Jean Kloke says.
So when Don found himself in need, it was no surprise that jean was right there to help.
“I found out that I had bed bugs in my bed and I had to get rid of it right away,” Vietnam Veteran, Don Williams says.
The bed bugs forced Don to throw away his bed and search for a new one, but he didn’t have the funds to get one on his own.
“I put out a message on the next door app of a Vietnam vet in need, and the outpouring was absolutely overwhelming.. within minutes we had offers of a bed. I don’t have a bed but I have a frame, I have blankets, I have sheets, I have towels,” Kloke says.
There were floods of offers and messages coming in wanting to help.
“I just couldn’t believe it, I couldn’t believe it, the people who responded to Jean, I couldn’t believe it,” Williams says.
He was left speechless, seeing people sending him money, gift cards, a mattress, sheets and much more. However, it’s all held in a storage unit until his room is in the clear. A moment Don says he cannot wait for.
“It’s just going to be a wonderful feeling to put it together. Put the frame together, put the mattress on the frame, put the bed clothes on the bed. It’s going to be awesome, it’s going to be another blessing,” Williams says.
Blessed by strangers and a relationship with a good friend.