(COLORADO SPRINGS) —Mount Carmel hosted its 27th Annual Veteran Stand Down Event at Weidner Field today, providing essential resources for homeless veterans to help them through the winter.
The event, organized by Mount Carmel, aimed to assist veterans who have served the country and are now facing difficult times. Resources available included housing and employment assistance, with a goal to help 150 to 200 veterans this year, surpassing the 126 veterans assisted last year.
“The term stand down came from World War II. So soldiers and sailors, Marines and airmen could kind of rest and recuperate,” explained Mark Smith, Programs and Evaluations Director at Mount Carmel.
“There’s barbers upstairs, there’s wound care, you name it, it’s here,” Smith added, highlighting the variety of services offered at the event.
Denise Millot, a retired instructor from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS), emphasized the importance of community connections, saying, “It’s always been important for me to have connections to the community. That’s part of what being a nurse is.”
Volunteers at the event provided fresh clothes, backpacks, hygiene care, and free Bibles to veterans in need. The nursing program at the UCCS participated by taking blood pressures, providing wound and foot care, and offering assistance with other health issues.
Millot noted the significance of small gestures, such as providing Band-Aids and cough drops for the upcoming winter season. “I think the biggest thing was a smile and an opportunity to laugh with them. You know, sometimes that’s all they need, that makes their day,” Millot said.
Mount Carmel encourages those who missed the event to reach out by calling (719) 309-4714, so the non-profit can provide assistance wherever needed.
The Veteran Stand Down Event at Weidner Field exemplifies Mount Carmel’s commitment to supporting veterans in need, offering a wide range of services and resources to help them transition through challenging times.
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