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| Congresswoman Lois Capps visits DSS at the 2016 Veterans Stand Down |
Rainy skies didn't dampen turnout at the 2016 Santa Barbara County Veterans Stand Down, held October 15 at the Santa Maria Fairpark. Nearly 600 veterans from around the county poured in for a warm welcome, a hot meal, supplies to stay safe and dry, and nearly 100 services from DSS and many other agencies. Open to all veterans, the annual one-day event aims to help homeless and low-income vets in particular.
Free shuttle buses provided transportation to the event from locations countywide. Upon arrival, attendees checked their bags, got a brief VA screening, and were joined by an active-duty airman from Vandenberg Air Force Base. Unique to Stand Down, this buddy system provides each vet with a comrade who can chat with them, assist them in navigating the maze of service providers, and help carry all the supplies they collect (especially important for elderly or disabled vets).
Veterans could receive free showers, haircuts, and clothing...connect with service providers to get off the street, get into recovery, resolve legal issues, or enroll in services...access health screenings and immunizations...and get readjustment and crisis counseling. Special zones offered additional services for women, kids, and pets.
Every year, DSS plays an important role in making the Stand Down happen, and providing our full spectrum of services to attendees. Many DSS representatives attended the Stand Down:
- WTW/WIOA/WRC were represented by Steve Hernandez, Xochitl Ibarra and Luis Servin.
- CalWORKs was represented by Luz Maria Cabral and Guadalupe Marin.
- MediCal, CalFresh, General Relief, and Covered California were represented by Lilia Morales, Lupe Salinas, and Margarita Pineda.
- IHSS/IHCN were represented by Bridget Stanton and Tatiana Barajas.
- Frank Mejia coordinated all the service providers.
- Aydee Plascencia staffed the bus pass/information desk, and helped Frank issue all provider boarding passes.
- Heather Gardner secured a grant to provide veterans with boots, shoes and high-protein foods, and staffed the distribution table along with Maria Gardner and Brian Carroll.
The Stand Down's positive effects continue after the event is over, as DSS social worker Eva Didion observed. On a recent morning, she was meeting with a homeless client who lives in a tent on the outskirts of Lompoc. "We were talking about how hard it had been for him to get up in the morning because it has been so cold, which makes his back and knee problems worse," she said. "He told me 'I'm so glad I went to the Stand Down. They gave me new sleeping bag and it is nice and warm.' Some water got into his tent during the recent rain and all of the clothes in his bag were wet, but he had his warm sleeping bag and that gave him much comfort." A warm sleeping bag, and a connection with a social worker who can offer needed services, can make a big difference.
Spearheaded by Fifth District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino, Stand Down has grown steadily. "In 2012 we started with an idea and a handful of people," said Lavagnino, "and today we have a committee of more than 100. It's a group of very talented people, and everybody's coming together to try and help veterans."
Stand Down has grown from 229 vets aided the first year, to a record 579 this year. Among the attendees were 139 self-identified homeless vets and 48 female vets, including 15 homeless women. The ages of veterans attending this year spanned from 21 to 96.
This year, 660 volunteers helped to provide 91 different services:
- medical, dental and vision care and screening, including immunizations
- shoes and clothing
- hygiene products, showers and haircuts
- women's health services and personal services
- legal aid and veterans treatment court
- consultations with the VA, Probation, Child Support and other agencies
- ID cards from the DMV
- housing services and Habitat for Humanity home repair applications
- GED tutoring
- veterinary care and grooming for pets, including microchips and shots
- behavioral wellness counseling and addiction support groups
- fresh and packaged food
- job services and resume building support, and employers
- public and private human services programs
- bus tokens to get to service appointments
- a kids' zone
- free cell phones and service
The Santa Maria Elks, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 982 and the Santa Barbara County Cattlemen’s Association provided hot meals to veterans and volunteers and the Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau handed out 175 bags of fresh, locally grown produce.
Vandenberg Air Force Base provided about 150 active duty airmen and women as volunteers. The military members helped stage the event, monitored the veteran gate, served as one-on-one escorts, restocked and sorted items in the convention center and served food, among other duties. Other volunteers came from throughout the county, various businesses and service groups, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department and the Grizzly Academy. When the event was over, one volunteer even provided a ride home for a veteran who missed the bus back to Santa Barbara.
Later in the week, a volunteer appreciation luncheon was held. Lavagnino recognized the extraordinary work of Stand Down coordinator Sandy Agalos, as well as various individuals and businesses who volunteer their services or work to ensure everything runs smoothly, from the registration desk to the services pavilion to the donation center to the medical plaza.
For more information, see http://sbcountystanddown.com. For images, see our 2016 Stand Down photo album, and the Santa Barbara County Veterans Stand Down Facebook page.
Many thanks to Frank Mejia and Nora Wallace for contributing to this story.