Helping the Homeless with Stand Down events

Stand Downs are one part of the Marion VA Medical Center’s efforts to provide services to homeless Veterans or Veterans in need.

The name “Stand Down” is a military term for the time when a solider can put down his weapon and stop fighting.  Stand Down founder, Jon Nachison, a soldier turned psychologist who started the events in 1988 says, “there must be some gap that exists between military service and becoming a civilian, you’re told what to wear, you’re given everything and then suddenly you’ve lost your entire family, you’ve lost your identity.”

Stand Downs provide services to Veterans in need such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings, VA and Social Security benefits counseling, and referrals to a variety of other necessary services, such as housing, employment and substance abuse treatment.  Stand Downs are collaborative events, coordinated between local VAs, other government agencies, and community agencies who serve the homeless.

The Marion VA Medical Center has expanded Stand Down events to include:

• Thursday, September 8th from 9a-3p at the main hospital located at 2401 W. Main Street in Marion, Illinois
• Thursday, September 15th from 9a-3p at the current clinic at 500 E. Walnut Street in Evansville, Indiana
• Wednesday, September 21st from 9a-3p at the Owensboro VA clinic at 3400 Hartford Road in Owensboro, Kentucky.
• Thursday, September 29th from 9a-3p at Bob Noble Park, Shelter #16 in Paducah, Kentucky.

If you would like to donate or volunteer for the Stand Down, please contact Adam Coleman, Homeless Veteran Program Coordinator at 618-997-5311, ext. 54463.