KELSEYVILLE — Lake County Vet Connect members will host a quarterly mobile Stand Down, an outreach event for local veterans who are homeless or experiencing uncertain housing.
The event will take place Thursday, June 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, 5340 Third St.
Veterans must provide their ID cards or DD Forms 214.
The Stand Down offers immediate intervention support in the form of supplies and housing, employment services and other community resource information. Lunch will be served by Vet Connect volunteers.
Resources will be offered covering a variety of topics including veterans’ services, MPIC VetWorks, housing and homeless assistance, employment, safe medication disposal, emergency preparedness, employment assistance, child support assistance, respite care, and Woodland Community College, behavioral health, and substance abuse counseling services.
“In the military, ‘Stand Down’ afforded battle-weary soldiers the opportunity to renew their spirits, enjoy warm meals, receive medical and dental care, mail and receive letters, and enjoy the camaraderie of friends in a safe environment,” said Vet Connect Chair Chris Taliaferro.
“Today, ‘Stand Down’ refers to grassroots, community-based intervention programs designed to help the nation’s homeless veterans ‘combat’ life on the streets. Homeless veterans are invited to a single location and are provided access to the community resources needed to begin addressing their individual problems and start rebuilding their lives,” added Taliaferro.
Vet Connect committee members are asking the public to spread the word regarding the event so that local homeless or near homeless veterans can be reached and may benefit from the support available.
For more information, contact Taliaferro at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Nikki Derr at 707-234-9950.
For updates, visit the Vet Connect Hookup Hub on Facebook.
Janine Smith-Citron
is development director for Hospice Services of Lake County.