Veteran Has Been Helping The Homeless For Nearly 25 Years

LOMBARD, Ill. (CBS) -- A west suburban veteran is about to enter his 25th year helping the homeless.

WBBM's Steve Miller reports, even though 64-year-old Jim Proffitt has been feeding the homeless since 1989, he said it's not his occupation.

"It's not a job. Nobody gets paid," he said.

Proffitt and his wife Virginia now give out about 1,100 sandwiches to the homeless every week.

Next month, he will have completed 24 years of work. It's what he calls the Chicago Homeless Sandwich Run.

We asked what's on the sandwich menu.

"Unfortunately, because it's cheap, we do a lot of bologna sandwiches," he said.

And he said he's learned something in 24 years.

"Peanut butter and jelly does not go over. We tried doing that to cut down on costs. That didn't go well at all," he said.

Proffitt said many of the homeless he helps are veterans.