Veterans Stand Down Today and Tomorrow

Volusia County’s Veterans Services Division's Veterans Stand Down is taking place today and tomorrow, April 19 and 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Volusia County Fairgrounds, 3150 E. New York Ave., DeLand. Veterans and their families may stop by for free haircuts, clothing, and lunch. They can also talk to representatives from multiple agencies about veterans benefits, career and education resources, homeless veterans resources, and health care information. A free lunch will be served by Bull & Boar BBQ Supply Co. each day, and boxes of food will be provided by Farm Share, a nonprofit food bank.

As part of Volusia County’s “Hiring our Heroes” initiative, Human Resources staff will be on hand to share information about job openings with the County.

Stand downs for homeless veterans are modeled after the stand down concept used during the Vietnam War to provide a safe retreat for units returning from combat. At a secure base camp, troops were able to take care of personal hygiene, get clean uniforms, enjoy warm meals, receive medical and dental care, mail and receive letters, and enjoy the camaraderie of friends in a safe environment.

In addition to Volusia County Veterans Services, participating agencies are the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County, VITAS Healthcare, CareerSource Flagler Volusia, Supporting Services for Veterans Families, Daytona State College, and the Daytona Beach Vets Center.

For more information, call Scott Olson at 386-740-5102. Learn about Volusia County Veterans Services at https://www.volusia.org/veterans.