Stand Down serves about 200 homeless vets

Thursday, May 27, 2004 | 11:10 a.m.

At least 200 homeless military veterans got help Wednesday at the first-ever local Veterans Stand Down at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge northeast of downtown Las Vegas, event officials said.

"Our figures are very rough, very preliminary, but it was a big success as far as meeting our goals of obtaining meaningful data and beginning the process of breaking the cycle of homelessness," said the Rev. Harold Sherrod Jr., state chaplain for the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the event's organizer.

Event officials registered 200 veterans, who filled out paperwork for a demographics study. But estimates are that as many as 220 veterans attended, as well as about 15 women and veterans' relatives, Sherrod said.

The attendees were fed 300 hamburgers and 275 hot dogs and received about 1,500 pounds of clothing, he said.

Also, 72 haircuts were provided, 500 Citizens Area Transit bus passes were issued as well as 100 blankets, 400 pairs of new socks and 600 personal hygiene kits. The veterans also received 800 12-ounce bottles of water.

Sherrod said that military liaisons from members of Nevada's congressional delegation took 25 congressional inquiries that included requests for missing military records, Veterans Administration medical benefits and decorations.

Family support officials in the district attorney's office took an undisclosed number of requests for modifications of child support court orders, Sherrod said.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman attended the event and talked with veterans and on-site volunteers. Sherrod said Goodman asked him to appear at a future Las Vegas City Council meeting to give a full report on the services rendered.

One of the more popular services utilized by dozens of veterans was the on-site dental care from the VA's Community-Based Outreach Clinic. Sherrod said the number of dental services rendered was not immediately available.

Sherrod said other services included helping veterans try to find jobs and affordable housing.

Sherrod said it will not be until early June before data is collected and compiled from the 22 agencies that participated.

About 150 volunteers, including about 50 Nellis Air Force Base active-duty men and women, participated in the event, Sherrod said.

The first-ever local Stand Down specifically for veterans is not affiliated with the annual Stand Down for the homeless which has been held each October in Las Vegas since 1993.

Plans for next year's Veterans Stand Down include extending the event to three days to provide more veterans with additional services, Sherrod said. Harold Sherrod Jr.