'Stand down' serves homeless veterans in Charleston

  • Published
  • By Airman Jared Trimarchi
  • Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs
JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. (AFNS) --  More than 2,068 homeless people, both veterans and civilians, received aid from local volunteers at the 11th annual Stand Down Against Homelessness, Oct. 28 and 29, at North Charleston Armory Park, S.C.

More than 300 local military and civilian volunteers supported the event.

Sponsored by the Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Goodwill Industries, the event provided food, clothing vouchers, medical and dental screenings, job and legal assistance, and personal hygiene items to homeless people.

A hot breakfast with coffee was provided to all homeless participants, and Veterans Administration volunteers administered flu shots.

"I think it's a wonderful thing, not only helping our fellow veterans, but also helping those who just live in the community and have fallen on hard times," said Henry Young, an Air Force veteran and volunteer.

Blankets and clothes were also distributed and homeless participants were assigned personal "shoppers" who helped them find the right size clothes that had been donated by Goodwill Industries for the event. In addition to the blankets and clothes, haircuts were given to those in need.

"It feels good getting a free haircut," said Richard Krempusch, a local man who participated at the event. "I've paid 16 bucks I didn't have for a haircut with money that I needed to spend for a job interview."

Helping homeless people acquire stable work is one of the primary goals of the event. Volunteers work with VA officials to find out if a homeless person is a veteran, and if so, they immediately escort the person to the VA tent, where the process of getting help -- primarily a place to live, health care and job resources, begins.

"It's rewarding when you help people get back on their feet and they find a job," said Tonya Lobbestael, a Ralph H. Johnson VAMC public affairs officer and co-chairman of the planning committee for the stand down.

Ms. Lobbestael said she has seen homeless participants become volunteers themselves after receiving help from previous stand downs.

"We couldn't pull this off without the help of the military," Ms. Lobbestael said. "The volunteers came from (several Air Force agencies) and the Coast Guard. It makes a big difference, especially to the homeless veterans. You can see them stand a little taller and regain some of that pride they had when they served just by seeing these young, clean-cut service members in uniform out there helping them."

Although the goal of the event is simple, helping homeless veterans get off the street is still an uphill battle, Ms. Lobbestael said.

"We had 390 (fewer participants) than last year," she said. "That by itself is encouraging, but there is still a significant need in the community. The hardest part is seeing how many people are out there (who) need help."

For one local veteran and volunteer, participating in the event made that need quite clear.

"It really opened my eyes when I saw how many homeless families with kids are in my community," said Master Sgt. Anthony Mullins, from Det. 3 of the Naval Consolidated Brig at Joint Base Charleston. "With all the volunteer work I have done in my career, helping the homeless has really had the most impact on me."