Next Veterans Stand Down Monday and Tuesday

I try to keep up with NASA Education’s Veterans Stand Downs at Camp Algonquin.

The next two-day event will be held Monday and Tuesday. Information about it is below the announcement.

NASA will sponsor the next Stand Down for Veterans on March 9 and 10, 2009 at YMCA Camp Algonquin, 1889 Cary Road, Algonquin, IL 60102.

This will be NASA Education’s sixth semiannual, two-day Stand Down. At the Spring 2008 event, 227 newly discharged, displaced, disabled, homeless, unemployed, elderly and other veterans in need received services.

We expect a record attendance at the next Stand Down! U.S Department of Labor’s, Patrick Winfrey, Illinois Representative Linda Chapa LaVia, and McHenry County board member Mary Donner were keynote speakers at the Spring Stand Down last year.

The Stand Down for Veterans is an ambitious undertaking that takes many hands to produce, but it’s a joyful one because the entire community pitches in to help our nation’s heroes.

Services to be provided to the veterans include meals and accommodations for the two-day event at beautiful YMCA Camp Algonquin.

Representatives will be on hand to assist with

  • employment services,
  • legal counseling,
  • medical screenings and
  • on-site registration for VA medical care,
  • assistance in registering for VA benefits,
  • DD214s and other programs,
  • referrals for housing assistance and food vouchers,
  • referrals for free dental and eye care.

There will be

  • information and applications for housing/vocational rehabilitation programs,
  • information about community substance abuse, mental health and other programs,
  • free haircuts,
  • therapeutic massage,
  • a distribution of clothes, coats, new underwear, shoes and toiletry items,
  • entertainment and more!

The Stand Down is partially funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)/Veterans’ Employment and Training Services (VETS) and the HelpAmerica Foundation.

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The top photo is of an outreach employee of 8th District Congresswoman Melissa Bean.

The bottom photo is of John Blanchard in a big room full of clothes for veterans.


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