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Veteran Stand Downs held around the state
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| Stand Downs Bring Services and Support to Veterans in Need |
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The Grill Master Craig Zanni deserves a big THANKS!
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Homeless veterans, living on the streets, in the woods, in their cars, or drifting from couch to couch, may not feel welcome at too many public events. But each year, in communities all over Oregon, and all over the United States, one, two, or three-day Stand Downs are organized to reach out to honorably discharged veterans who are in need. At these events, veterans are welcomed, cared for, listened to, and provided with a range of helpful services.
After checking in through the Vet Center and the Veterans Administration, veterans can access hot meals, showers, haircuts, clothing, shoes, medical care, legal aid, food bags, and housing information. Veterans can find counseling on benefits, employment, addiction, and credit issues. Not every veteran will seek every service available at a Stand Down, but it is hoped that they can be guided by volunteers to the services they need most.
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Seamstress Guthrie Wilson helped out
with some light mending. |
Some Stand Downs incorporate job fairs as well, where veterans can meet with employers. A recent Stand Down in Coos Bay September 9th had over 50 service providers on hand. Veterans had their blood sugar and blood pressure tested. A seamstress mended frayed clothing items. Two Certified Healing Touch Practitioners soothed away stress. Small bags of pet food were handed out for furry companions. Hygiene kits in sturdy tote bags included toothpaste, a toothbrush, razors, shampoo, soap, super glue, combs, and hand sanitizers.
A two-day Stand Down in Salem September 16th and 17th provided similar core services and offered bicycle repair and overnight shelter.
Every Stand Down is a unique event depending upon the participating community partners, the volunteer organizations who organize them, and the type and quantity of donations raised throughout the year. Some Stand Downs order Department of Defense (DOD) military surplus to provide items like combat boots, backpacks, sleeping bags, coats, socks, trousers, underwear, wool socks, scarves, gloves and hats. Stand Down organizing committees place DOD surplus orders early in the year, hoping to receive items that would be useful to homeless veterans. The demand for DOD surplus for Stand Downs is very high, which often leads to delivery delays and an odd assortment of available goods. As a result, Stand Down organizing committees team up with other Stand Downs to distribute what does arrive to those most in need of it.
So far this year, Stand Downs have been held in Astoria, Bend, Coos Bay, Hillsboro, Portland, Salem, Warrenton, and White City. Springfield recently hosted a Stand Down on September 24 at the Lane County Armed Forces Reserve Center, and Troutdale has their Stand Down planned for October 15th at The Chapel.
If you would like to learn more about Stand Downs in your community contact a veterans representative at your local WorkSource Oregon Employment Department office, or visit one of these websites: www.CoosBayStandDown.org, www.PortlandStandDown.org, or www.LaneCountyStandDown.org.
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| Oregon Employment Department Veterans Coordinator Gary Dominick with Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) Specialist Roy Morris. | Bay Cities Ambulance provided blood pressure checks. | |
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