Veterans Stand Down event this Friday

A diminished version of the annual Veterans Stand Down will take place this Friday, November 20, 7:00 am to Noon at the National Guard Armory in downtown Olympia

Stand Downs are typically one to two-day events during which VA Staff and volunteers provide food, clothing and health screenings to homeless and at-risk veterans.

Veterans attending the Stand Down can receive referrals for health care, housing solutions, employment, mental health counseling and other essential services.

While representatives from the Lacey Veterans Hub, Tacoma Vet Center and Washington Veterans Affairs will be on hand, there will be no hot food, haircuts, or showers.

Surplus gear will be available for homeless vets, including sleeping bags, poncho liner blankets to add warmth to sleeping bags, fleece jackets, boots and sleep mats.

“Normally we would have several hundred attendees,” explained John Moysiuk, Disabled Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist for Employment Security Department WorkSource Thurston. “This year we will be lucky to get 50.” Because of COVID, the event is limited to serving veterans who are currently homeless. “On a scale of one to 100, I would say this year will be a 9,” Moysiuk added.

Several Stand Down events around the country have been cancelled due to the pandemic, including the Seattle Stand Down.

The National Guard Armory is located at 515 Eastside St. in Olympia.

Virtual Job Fair

Stand Down Events around the country usually assist veterans to find employment. This year all of that has moved online.  Hire-A-Vet Washington! is a statewide virtual job fair for veterans and military families, and will be held Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Registration is required. 

Here is the link.