Stand Down: Event offers veterans, community assistance
BUTLER TWP — Even after hosting it nine times, organizers of the annual Butler County Stand Down still see new faces at the Lyndora American Legion each time the event rolls around.
Allyson Rose, a member of the Stand Down committee, said the event on Friday, Nov. 7, is not only a chance for veterans to meet one another, but an opportunity for them to learn about everything available to help them in Butler County. With more than 60 vendors in attendance Friday, Rose said most veterans should have been able to find what they need, but there were contingencies in place for those who didn’t.
“We have a registration form, and we have a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ check box if individuals are in need of assistance for various things,” Rose said. “If an individual checks ‘yes’ and leaves their contact information, we'll go at the end of the day and follow up with them to see if they were able to access resources here or if they need additional assistance.”
American Legion Post 778 was packed with tables Friday, including from the Center for Community Resources, Butler County Veterans Services, Butler County Human Services, Butler County Community College, National Alliance on Mental Illness and others. Rose said that Stand Down helps bring these resources to people who might need them, so military veterans don’t have to hunt them down on their own.
The line for the free meal was particularly long. The line to get new shoes and jackets from Walmart also wrapped around the hall. Sometimes, veterans have needs as basic as food and clothing which go unaddressed until an event such as Stand Down, Rose said.
“Housing and utility resources, connecting to mental health or drug and alcohol treatment, as well as basic needs and items like clothing and food,” she said. “We provide free haircuts, Walmart offers free clothing, and we have multiple other basic needs giveaways.”
The Butler Township Walmart supplied shoes and winter clothing to veterans at the event, like it has for all 10 years of Stand Down.
Angela Fleeger, store manager of the Butler Township Walmart, said Stand Down is her favorite community event to help out with year after year.
“We bring them coats, boots, hats and socks,” Fleeger said. “We have a hiring table for anyone who wants to apply for a job.”
Fleeger added that in the unlikely event that there were any items leftover following Stand Down, they would be donated to Butler County Veterans in Need, a nonprofit organization that collects funds to relieve distress of veterans and their families.
After veterans made their ways around the American Legion, they could go outside to get food from food trucks, and even more resources from programs like the Homeless Bag Project and the Butler Community Partnership.
Ernest Fox, a veteran of the U.S. Army, said he attends Stand Down every year to pick up supplies and resources.
“There’s a lot of boots and clothes to get,” Fox said. “It’s a very good thing.”
