PORT ANGELES — For the 11th year, veterans of U.S. armed forces in need can get a little help during the Clallam County Veterans Stand Down today.
The Port Angeles event will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Clallam County Fairgrounds at 1608 W. 16th St.
The Stand Down is for all veterans — including those who served during World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, Afghanistan and Iraq — and for veterans’ immediate family members.
Volunteers will offer such free services as a hot breakfast and lunch, employment information, benefits counseling, housing assistance, haircuts, legal aid and health screening to any veteran in need.
Homeless veterans also can receive free clothing, bedding, hygiene kits and outdoor equipment, and assistance in finding housing.
In 2013, five out of the nearly 300 veterans at the Port Angeles Stand Down were identified as being homeless, organizers said.
The majority of veterans at past events have been local residents, organizers said, and attended the event to receive job services, to learn what unused benefits for which they may be eligible or just to network with other veterans.
In recent years, organizers have included services for veterans’ pets, including dog food, some medications, wormers and other pet supplies.
The popularity of the pet supplies took organizers by surprise in 2013, and they had to restock before noon.
Free rides
Clallam and Jefferson transits will provide free rides to veterans. Veterans who tell drivers they are going to or from the Stand Down will receive coupons for a day of free bus rides.
Clallam County Transit routes 24 and 26 will drop riders at a point near the fairgrounds entrance.
Proof of service is requested but not required to take part in the Stand Down.
The volunteers are mostly veterans themselves or have veterans in their families.
Many veterans have been away from the military for three or four decades and no longer have their discharge paperwork or other details needed to claim official benefits, according to organizers.
Organizers take the claimants on their word and begin working with them to get new copies of their service-related paperwork.
There is a common language all veterans understand, organizers have said.
History
The first Veterans Stand Down in the nation was in San Diego in 1988 in response to the large number of homeless Vietnam veterans in the area.
The first Stand Down in Port Angeles assisted 125 veterans in October 2004.
It was organized by Voices for Veterans after the 2004 Point in Time Census of homeless people.
In 2013, more than 600 veterans registered and received services at the three North Olympic Peninsula Stand Downs: in Port Angeles, Forks and Port Townsend.
Voices for Veterans is a nonprofit corporation organized by volunteers dedicated to assisting the homeless veteran population on the North Olympic Peninsula.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
