The Athens Area Stand Down event helps veterans experiencing homelessness
By: Alison Patton
Posted on:
ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Now that October is here and the nights are getting chillier, people who are experiencing homelessness are even more vulnerable. Those concerned about veterans hope a local Stand Down event can help.
The Athens Area Stand Down event happens every first Friday in October to prepare people for the winter. Veterans were the first to come into the Athens County Fairgrounds to collect boots, blankets, winter coats and other free items.
“What we’re trying to do is give folks that are homeless, or at risk of being homeless, veterans and community members, resources, items, food, (warm clothing) to help them get through the winter months,” Athens Area Stand Down President George McCarthy said.
The first two hours of the event were for veterans only, as a way for them to “stand down” from homelessness.
“That’s why it’s important for those local veterans because we hope to change their status from being homeless or unhoused in some of the local areas around Athens to maybe securing a job, securing housing and getting out of the elements,” Stand Down Vice President Terry St. Peter said.
St. Peter said the term stand down comes from the military.
“That’s where we bring military members together kind of off the battlefield to kind of regroup, get reinstituted, reconstituted, refill, replenish before they go back into the battlefield,” he said.
“There’s also a bigger segment that’s not homeless that isolates and because they’re self sufficient because of their upbringing or military training, sometimes they don’t get to interact,” McCarthy said.
This might include veterans who aren’t willing to come forward with their issues because of their pride, McCarthy said. Although, he knows some veterans value the thought and come out anyway.
“They appreciate knowing somebody cares enough so that they’ll come forward,” McCarthy said.
This includes veterans like Nathan West, who is unemployed and living off service-connected checks from the government.
“We’re kind of financially dependent on the low scale,” West said. “I live paycheck to paycheck.”
West served in the Army for about three years and specialized in cold weather training.
He received boots, a backpack with essentials like toilet paper and a blanket, and much more all for free. He said the boots might be particularly useful for this cold winter.
Overall, West said he is thankful to have the opportunity.
“It’s a good energy to come here and see everybody group up, and the camaraderie and the smiling faces, and I think it’s impacted me and in a good way,” West said.
He went with two other veteran friends, one of whom volunteered to get the event set up and work with participants. After seeing how this event affects people just like him, West said he might even come back as a volunteer next year.