Canes for Veterans Central Texas holds fundraiser at Camp Caylor

By BRITTANY FHOLER
Cove Leader-Press

Canes for Veterans of Central Texas held its inaugural fundraiser event at Camp Caylor Saturday afternoon. 
Started by Army veteran Jamie Willis in 2016, Canes for Veterans of Central Texas makes handcrafted canes from tree trunks, including Christmas trees, for veterans across the world. Willis works out of his garage on the canes and has been looking to expand into a larger workshop space for over a year now. He has half of the money needed to purchase a larger workshop already. 
Funds raised at Saturday’s event will go towards making the workshop dream a reality. 
“To have the community still back me, it still means a lot,” Willis said. “With the community’s support, I never thought it would get as big as it has. I thought it would have faded away, but it hasn’t. It’s just grown and grown and grown. From the time it started, I get people telling me how great it makes them feel to be a part of it and just for what I do and I’m getting thanked all the time, but I don’t deserve the thanks. It’s the veterans that need to be thanked, not me. I’m just doing it because I enjoy doing it. I’m just trying to give back to, in them in a small way that I can.”
Although the canes are free for the veterans and are shipped out at no cost to the veterans, Willis shoulders the cost of the supplies needed for the canes and the cost to package and ship the canes. 
The cost to make a cane ranges anywhere from $20 to at least $60, depending on what is done or added to the cane. Each cane is made with a tree trunk that has to be delimbed and sanded down before epoxy resin is applied and whatever customization is added. Shipping costs for the canes cost anywhere from $15 to over $100. Willis said he has shipped canes to Australia and Japan.
“The cost, it doesn’t matter,” Willis said. “Even if I run out of money with the organization, I’m still going to pay out of my pocket to make sure these canes get out. I love what I do, and I’m going to continue to do it. No matter what it takes, I’ll continue to do it.”
Willis said that there is currently a waitlist for the canes of 800 people, which brings an immense need for more volunteers to come help Canes for Veterans Central Texas make the canes. Each cane takes approximately 40 hours to make, and currently only two people are making the canes. 
“For every cane that goes out, we get two or three more orders in, so it’s not slowing down at all,” Willis said. “It seems like every time a holiday comes around, more people hear about us, and it just grows and grows and grows. What we need most are personnel that are willing to volunteer their help in making the cane.”
Willis said that even if people don’t have any experience with woodwork or making canes, they are welcome and will be taught how to make the canes. 
Saturday’s fundraiser at Camp Caylor featured different vendors and food trucks, who paid a fee that went straight to Canes for Veterans Central Texas. 
Raven Mabe, of the Dippity Dog food truck was invited by Willis to be a food truck at the event and jumped at the chance. Mabe’s husband is a veteran as well and served nearly 30 years in the military. 
“I think this is wonderful,” Mabe said. “The more things we have like this for our veterans, the better off we’re going to be. I really like it. The next time they ask me to go, anybody wants me there, I’ll be there. Anything that anybody can do for our vets, it’s worth it.”
There was also live music and axe-throwing along with the different games offered at Camp Caylor like life-size Jenga, cornhole and more. 
Several items were raffled off including various gift baskets, paintings, gift certificates to local businesses, and even an American flag donated by U.S. Congressman Roger Williams, who represents Texas District 25. Other items included a $200 gift certificate to Forever Tattoos; a gift certificate for a four-hour fishing trip for two courtesy of GarQuest Bowfishing; a custom knife donated by Willis and an AR-15 also donated by Willis. 
For people interested in volunteering or donating to Canes for Veterans Central Texas, visit their Facebook page or their website at https://canesforveteranscentex.org/.