BAKERSFIELD, CA [Monday, Oct. 9, 2017 at 5 p.m.]—The Kern County Veterans Stand Down Organizing Committee, led by California Veterans Assistance Foundation and with Veterans Service the Veterans Stand Down event from from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is structured as a one-day, one-stop-shop community service day benefiting all veterans, but especially focusing on veterans who are homeless or at risk for homelessness on Thursday, Oct. 12, at Stramler Park (3805 Chester Avenue in Bakersfield).
More than 500 veterans and their families will receive such services as food for themselves and their pets, haircuts, basic medical exams and flu shots, vision exams, linkage to veterans benefits, and veterans court (which helps veterans remove certain legal barriers from their record that could keep them from obtaining housing, gainful employment and credit).
“It isn’t very often that you can provide services to so many veterans and their dependents—even their pets—in a single day, but the Kern County Veterans Stand Down does it every year,” said organizing committee co-chair Heather Kimmel, Assistant Executive Director for the Housing Authority of the County of Kern.
Scores of social service agencies will be delivering services at more than 80 booths at this year’s Stand Down.
“I would like to thank the members of the Stand Down committee for their help, as well as their employers for allowing them to volunteer their time to help make this amazing community event a success,” said organizing committee chair Deb Johnson, President & CEO of California Veterans Assistance Foundation. “This is our 19th year for the Stand Down and it never ceases to amaze me how many people give of their time to volunteer for the benefit of the veterans in our community.”
Johnson also acknowledged the generous monetary and in-kind support this year’s Stand Down has received from various sources, including:
· A $7,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor/Veterans Employment and Training Service
· $5,000 from California 23rd District Representative and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy
· $2,000 from the VFW Foundation
· $1,000 from Valley Republic Bank
· $500 from VFW Post 7216 in East Bakersfield
· $300 from Titan Oilfield Services; and
· A 66% discount on 750 hot meals from Smitty’s Smokin’ Brisket & BBQ.
The opening ceremony, scheduled for 8 a.m., will include the Presentation of Colors and the singing of the National Anthem.
Some of the dignitaries expected to attend or send their representatives include:
· Congressman David Valadao, CA 21st District
· Congressman Kevin McCarthy, CA 23rd District
· Senator Andy Vidak, CA 14th Senate District
· Assemblyman Vince Fong, CA 34th Assembly District
· Assemblyman Tom Lackey, CA 36th Assembly District
· Supervisor Mike Maggard, Kern County 3rd Supervisorial District
· The Office of Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh
This is part of the October 6, 2017 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
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