Two-Day Stand Down event aids homeless veterans

A retired U.S. Marine Reserve gunnery sergeant, Norm Wilcox has put out the call for a few good men and women to volunteer at this month’s Veterans Stand Down in Detroit.

Wilcox, president of Southeastern Michigan Veterans Stand Down, is seeking volunteers to help with this year’s two-day event for homeless veterans. It will be held Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 7-8, at the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries.

Sponsored by the Southeastern Michigan Veterans Stand Down and with the support of the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, the event is a one-stop program that brings in homeless veterans and provides them with a variety of services and rest and relaxation.

“Instead of going all over, we bring them to one place and help them,” Wilcox said. “The motto of Southeastern Michigan Veterans Stand Down is Giving a ‘hand up’, not a ‘hand out’.”

The organization has been holding stand downs since 1997. It requires almost 200 volunteers. Last year, the event helped 692 veterans who were homeless or at risk of being homeless.

According to Wilcox, the stand down provides a secure place where homeless veterans can be with other homeless veterans to rest from the stresses of life on the streets. Like a soldier in combat, the homeless veteran must continue to “do battle.” It is an opportunity to step away from the struggles, fears and anxieties of living on the streets long enough to reconnect with other people and with themselves.

At each Stand Down event, veterans are provided with a hot lunch, a bag lunch to go, haircuts, health care, dental and eye care, VA benefits counseling, information on general benefits like Social Security, Secretary of State, substance abuse and mental health counseling, picture ID services and housing assistance.

Also, the 36th District Court holds court on Wednesday, handling minor infractions in Wayne County.

Volunteers come from throughout southeast Michigan, especially western Wayne County. They’re asked to choose from a number of different volunteer opportunities and shifts. The stand down is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and volunteers are asked to be at the mission at 7 a.m. each day.

Volunteer are needed for setup 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1-6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, 7 a.m. to noon and noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday- Thursday, Oct. 7-8, and 5-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8. Volunteer positions include clothing, escorts, kitchen, security and barber.

People can sign up to volunteer at the Southeastern Michigan Veterans Stand Down Inc. website at www.4vets.org.

“There are plenty of people who never served who feel it’s a way to serve their country by serving those who served,” Wilcox said.

The Detroit Rescue Mission is at 3606 E. Forest Ave. in Detroit. For more information, call Wilcox at 248-808-0929 or visit www.4vets.org.