JAY – A veteran hiking the Appalachian Trail to raise awareness of the plight of homeless veterans was expected to reach Caratunk on Wednesday evening, according to VFW District 9 Commander Palmer Hebert.

Jarad Greeley, 26, of North Jay is nearing the end of the 2,000-plus-mile trail from Georgia to Mt. Katahdin in Maine’s Baxter State Park. He plans to be at Katahdin on Aug. 16, Hebert said in an e-mail.

Anyone who wants to hike the mountain with him can let Hebert know and he will send information as Greeley nears the park.

Greeley began his journey on March 8 and stepped off the trail for a short time on July 26 to attend a benefit dinner at the VFW in Jay to help raise money for homeless veterans.

The benefit dinner went well, Hebert said.

They served around 130 people and collected a little more than $1,100 for the dinner and $430 with the 50/50 drawing for a total of $1,539.

“So far we have raised a total of $3,309 for the project,” Hebert said.