Disabled veteran makes canes for fellow vets out of donated Christmas trees

A Central Texas man is helping our nation’s veterans put their best foot forward, but he needs your help.

Jamie Willis, owner of Canes for Veterans Central Texas, is asking for people to donate Christmas trees so he can make canes for veterans like him. Since 2016, Willis has created more than 200 canes for veterans across the country.

“The whole process, it’s just done off donations. I make the canes myself. Everything’s done out of pocket,” said Willis. With the holiday season behind us, he has a special request.

“Just don’t throw your trees out. If you can, just bring them to me,” said Willis. Willis will use the Christmas tree donations to make even more canes.

Veterans like Carl Parkhurst say it is a worthy cause.

“Reason for it is to help veterans. Jamie doesn’t charge anything for them he gave me mine for free,” Parkhurst said.

U.S. Army veteran David Garza also uses a cane to get around.

“[After] 21 years getting in and out off of tanks and off of vehicles. Yeah, but that’s just one of the sacrifices we make,” said Garza. “[Willis] asked me if I wanted a cane built,” said Garza. “And I said, ‘Sure, why not?'”

Not only does Willis help veterans, he will make a cane for anyone who needs one.

Christmas tree donations can be dropped off at 2001 Jesse Drive in Copperas Cove, Texas. For further questions, reach out to Canes for Veterans Central Texas at (254) 394-3150.

This article was written by Olivia Levada for KXXV.