More services planned for Stand Down

By Timothy Pratt (contact)

Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2003 | 9:55 a.m.

Air Force Master Sgt. Sherrill Stewart recently returned from her tour of duty in Iraq, where she saw people deal with a "shortage of so many things."

Today she's down at Cashman Center, helping thousands of men and women who live on the streets of the Las Vegas Valley amid other kinds of shortages.

Stewart is heading up a team of up to 140 men and women volunteering from Nellis Air Force Base, or about half of the total crew at the 11th annual Stand Down for the Homeless, a one-day event that groups together private and public services for the down-and-out.

The military leader's central role in the event is appropriate, given that standing down is a term used when troops regroup before going back into battle. Other versions of the event are held around the country, but the Las Vegas one may well be the largest, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless, a Washington-based nonprofit. The 2002 version drew nearly 2,500 of the valley's estimated 10,000 homeless.

This year's stand down will give thousands more a chance to regroup through a wide range of services, including amnesties on misdemeanor charges, haircuts, pulled teeth, eye exams or job applications.

This year's version also has some first-time services. These include eye exams and glasses for up to 150 people offered through Lens Crafters, and more dentists than in previous years. There's also a group of students en route to becoming physician's assistants who are helping with medical care.

Unexpected last-minute good news also came days before the event, after word got out that sources for thousands of coats and blankets would not be coming through this year. Separate efforts to recoup the loss came about from different corners of the valley, including AAA of Nevada and a coalition of 18 religious congregations. By Tuesday night donations added up to several thousand of each, gathered in less than two weeks.

"This was a miracle," said Brian Brooks, chairman of the committee that organizes the event. "There area lot of caring people who want to do good things, and they did."

Meanwhile, Stewart said that her time in Iraq and her efforts helping set up the stand down had something in common.

"No matter where you go, there are people going through hard times," she said.