Stand Down at the Beach

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In just one week, more than 40 federal, state, and local resource organizations and service providers will come together for "Stand Down at the Beach." AARP South Carolina, Veteran’s Welcome Home Center, Palmetto Goodwill and Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson are the primary sponsors of the event. Stand Down at the Beach will be held on Friday, September 19, 2014 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the U.S. Army Reserve, 3392 Phillis Boulevard.

“Stand Down is an event to provide services to homeless Veterans and Veterans such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings, VA and Social Security benefits counseling, and referrals to a variety of other necessary services, such as housing, employment and substance abuse treatment,” said Doris Gleason, AARP South Carolina director of community outreach and a lead organizer of Stand Down at the Beach.

This is the first ever Stand Down event staged in Horry County. “There are an unknown number of veterans living on the streets. Our job is to seek them out, get their credentials, and do whatever we can to assist them,” said Kris “Turtle” Tourtellotte, director of the Veterans Welcome Home and Resource Center. “Stand Down is our chance to turn their lives around and return them to main stream society and give them what they need to survive.”

Along with providing resources to homeless Veterans, Stand Down at the Beach is intended to bring the community and service providers together in a collaborative format that can build relationships throughout the year that positively impact homeless Veterans.

The nation’s first Stand Down was organized in 1988 by a group of Vietnam Veterans in San Diego.  Since then, Stand Downs have been used as an effective tool in reaching out to homeless Veterans and Veterans, reaching more than 200,000 Veterans and their family members during 1994-2000.

Want to help? Volunteers are still needed to help staff the event and can sign up at http://vols.pt/MnNxRt.

If you need more information or have questions email here.