The Barre Area Veterans Council, comprised of the Barre Lodge of Elks #1535, American Legion Post #10, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #790 and Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War Camp 302, hosted a very successful homeless Veterans Stand Down. The free, all-day event was open to all Veterans, homeless or at-risk and their families. Over forty Veterans from Vermont and New Hampshire attended the stand down. Veterans from the Northeast Kingdom, Rutland, New Hampshire and southern Vermont received showers, haircuts, short term resources such as a hot meal, winter clothing, toiletries and cold weather items. Long term resources from the Veterans Administration, housing, legal and employment agencies, and counselors were also provided.
Barre Lodge members donated well over 500 volunteer hours, clothing, toiletries, camping and food supplies. Undergarments, blankets, toiletries, heat-a-seats, laundry detergent, shoelaces, hand and foot warmers, backpacks, beef jerky and protein bars were purchased with a $2000 Freedom Grant from Elks National Veterans Service Commission. Six of twelve Vermont Elks Lodges donated items or funds to stand down.
Thirty six Veteran service organizations and over one hundred thirty volunteers participated in the event. Over $200 in gas cards and $160 in grocery cards were given to attendees.
Photos by Kristin Calcagni)
From L to R: Army Veteran Rodney, Esquire Cindy Wedding, Army Veteran Dana and Exalted Ruler Maureen Lawson
From L to R: Exalted Ruler Maureen Lawson assists Veteran Chris Connolly with items received from stand down.