Written by
Lynne Valencia
DENVER - Donations from hundreds of 9NEWS viewers who stepped up to help homeless veterans are being distributed today.
Anchor Gregg Moss hosted our Hope for Homeless Veterans drive at 9NEWS last week. Everything from winter boots to parkas to sleeping bags to gift cards were collected.
The items are being distributed at the annual Homeless Veterans Stand Down at the Colorado Army National Guard Armory, 5275 Franklin St., Denver, on Thursday, November 3rd, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This event is organized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Denver Regional Office.
Stand Down is a military term that means a temporary stop of offensive military action. Homeless Veteran Stand Downs are designed to transform the despair and immobility of homelessness into the momentum necessary to get into recovery, to resolve legal issues, to seek employment, to access health services and benefits, to reconnect with the community and acquire housing.
Services and providers will include federal, state and non-profit organizations including Denver VA Regional Office (benefits), Denver VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System, Employment Services, Veteran Service Organizations, Social Security Administration, housing referrals, and Denver County Homeless Court, and legal services.
Veterans will be offered clothing items, sleeping bags, boots, free flu shots, health and dental screening, identifications and birth certificates, haircuts and eyeglass repair. Warren Technical School of Culinary Arts will prepare hot meals.
Buses will be running from the St. Francis Day Shelter, Samaritan House, and Denver VA Medical Center to the CO Army National Guard Armory.
The first Homeless Veterans Stand Down was organized in 1988 by a group of Vietnam Veterans in San Diego. Since then, Homeless Veteran Stand Downs have been used as an effective tool in reaching out to homeless Veterans.
(KUSA-TV © 2011 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)