STRI PES Hundreds of volunteers show support for homeless veterans

Many organizations and businesses providing any kind of service to the public these days struggle to find enough employees to help customers.

While employers have a hard time finding employees, finding volunteers to help veterans is totally the opposite. And in one case, far too many for the number of people that required the help being offered. More than 200 volunteers were present to help veterans in need, not knowing that only 60 would show up.

Stand Down to Stand Up, an event Jan. 21 at the Florida National Guard Armory in Cocoa, provided homeless and needy veterans with a variety of services — medical, eyeglasses, chiropractic, VA benefit assistance, clothing and supplies.

Again, as I have said many times, Brevard County residents are always ready to help and support veterans. And these volunteers were not just veteran organizations and veterans, but also included many who have not served in the Armed Forces, but who support veterans.

Many more veterans were expected to take advantage of the event, but only about 60 showed up. While volunteers were ready and eager to help, most were pleased that fewer than planned veterans attended. That’s because it appears that efforts by National Veterans Homeless Support and other organizations through the past few years, have drastically reduced the number of homeless veterans in Brevard County. Many have been placed either in transitional or permanent homes with the help of organizations in Brevard County.

The Stand Down was modeled after the stand down concept in Vietnam. During the war, troops were given short periods from combat operations to a relatively safe camp where they would get medical checks, new uniforms and other supplies.

The Stand Down to Stand Up has been held many times on the Space Coast and has drawn more than 100 homeless and in-need veterans. The event was not held during the COVID pandemic.

This time, though vehicles were sent out to pick up veterans from known wooded camps, some of the vans returned with very few veterans.

Those that showed up were given a lot of attention. All those who wanted, left with large backpacks with the supplies they were given.

It is so pleasing to me to see how the community comes together to do their part to help others, especially veterans. SL