24th Veterans Stand Down coming to Stramler Park on Thursday
Oct. 6—It's more than free coffee and breakfast.
Last year's Kern County Veterans Stand Down served more than 450 veterans and their dependents, and according to Deborah Johnson, president and CEO of the California Veterans Assistance Foundation, more vets are expected at this year's event coming next week.
The Assistance Foundation will host the 24th annual Kern County Veterans Stand Down scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at Stramler Park, 3805 Chester Ave., near Sam Lynn Ballpark.
All Kern County veterans are invited to attend and take advantage of the available resources, Johnson said. Aside from the services, a lot of vets also come for the comradery, the chance to connect with fellow veterans of the armed forces.
The Stand Down is considered a safe retreat for all veterans and their dependents, including homeless veterans. Conceived as a one-stop shop, the event brings more than 100 services to the single location, including free meals, clothing, haircuts, legal assistance, employment assistance, Social Security and housing assistance, veterans court and more.
"This year, we expect to see higher attendance, as we know that people are struggling in the face of inflation and a higher cost of living," Johnson said.
She was traveling Friday, but she spoke with The Californian during an airport layover about the importance of the annual event and the three major populations of veterans who are served each year.
"The primary goal of the Stand Down is to serve veterans who are at imminent risk of being without a home," Johnson said. "Imminent risk means they're not sure how they're going to be able to pay next month's rent.
"We want to catch them, we want to help them, before they become homeless," she said.
People often react negatively just at the mere mention of the word "homeless," Johnson said.
"But we need to remember they are citizens of our community and they are human beings. When they enter the gates of the Stand Down, they are our distinguished guests.
"We need to remember their service," she said.
A second category of veterans who attend the Stand Down are those who would like to know more about the community services offered there.
Vietnam veterans, for example, may have fairly stable housing, but inflationary pressures may cause food instability, Johnson said.
Other vets may need assistance in getting their disability rating, which may make them eligible for help with a service-related health issue.
And others may need information about educational or employment opportunities.
According to Johnson, many younger veterans who served more recently may resist asking for help. Therefore, it often falls to the dependent of the vet to look into applying for services.
"It is important that veteran dependents are there at Stand Down," Johnson said.
All who served are welcome at Stand Down, Johnson said. All who served are honored.
Steven Mayer can be reached at 661-395-7353.
