Coeur d’Alene Stand Down to aid homeless veterans

Homeless veterans can pick up fresh supplies for living on the streets at St. Vincent de Paul’s annual North Idaho Veterans Stand Down next weekend in Coeur d’Alene.

The Department of Veterans Affairs will hand out surplus military supplies including sleeping bags, shirts, pants, boots, socks and gloves at the event, which provides a variety of services to homeless and disadvantaged veterans in the Idaho Panhandle. It’s set for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds on Government Way.

In the past the surplus gear was given to any veterans who wanted it, but starting this year the VA is returning to the original intent of providing the gear only to homeless veterans to help them live outside until they are able to find housing or shelter, said Andy Rogers, the Stand Down coordinator and VA outreach specialist in Spokane.

Sometimes the supplies include mess kits, canteens and tarps – “pretty much anything that is available that could help someone who is homeless,” Rogers said.

About 200 homeless veterans are in the Spokane VA region, according to an annual January count of homeless people in the Inland Northwest.

The Stand Down, in its 22nd year in Coeur d’Alene, attracted about 1,400 veterans and their families last year. It kicks off an annual fundraising drive for a St. Vincent de Paul program that helps veterans and their families year-round with rental assistance, gas money and other needs.

Service organizations that provide medical, dental, housing, clothing and food assistance, as well as haircuts, massages and bike repair, will be on hand. Employers with immediate openings will take job applications, and a hot meal will be served to all veterans, volunteers and service providers.

Family activities also have been added to this year’s Stand Down. They will include a casting contest, an obstacle course with Nerf ball games, story time, face painting and a photo booth.

“We’re trying to expand the Stand Down to also be a day of appreciation and have family-oriented things there,” said Kecia Siegel, veterans services coordinator at North Idaho College.

The Stand Down is supported by the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Disabled American Veterans and the VA.

Additional Stand Downs will take place this year in Wenatchee, Moses Lake, Colville and Libby, Montana.