A special two-day “Stand Down in Morristown’’ event for homeless and at-risk military veterans, which is aimed at giving them the support and guidance they need to put their lives back together and once again become self-sufficient, is scheduled for this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6 and 7 at the National Guard Armory in Morris Township.
This important event for struggling veterans has been organized by non-profit Community Hope and will offer personalized, one-to-to guidance on more than 50 free federal, state, county, public and private supportive services and resources.
In addition to Community Hope’s housing and homeless prevention programs, representatives from many organizations at the event will provide social and personal care (including haircuts), legal resources, health and dental screenings, clothing, nutritious meals, housing referrals, Social Security and Veterans’ Administration benefits, and employment assistance.
“The Morristown Stand Down is the most important event for Morris County homeless and displaced veterans,’’ said Charles Jurgensen, Morris County Veterans Service Officer. “Veterans can get VA medical care and apply for other VA benefits, apply for benefits offered by Morris County, find potential job opportunities and a host of other programs. Free meals are offered on the spot as well as winter clothes and boots.
This important event for struggling veterans has been organized by non-profit Community Hope, which has rescued 1,000 veterans from homelessness in the past year, and will offer personalized, one-to-to guidance on more than 50 free federal, state, county, public and private supportive services and resources.
“Stand Downs provide the opportunity to engage with our neediest veterans,” said J. Michael Armstrong, Chief Executive Officer of Community Hope, which will provide housing and services to more than 1,000 homeless veterans and at-risk veteran families in the next year.
“We have the programs in place to help homeless veterans and the Stand Down allows us to reach those that need the most help, try to engage with them and earn their trust so that they are willing to accept the basic essentials they need and the services we provide,” Armstrong added.
The Morristown Stand Down is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6 and 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Armory, which is located at 430 Western Ave, Morristown, N.J. 07960
Some of the services offered will include:
- Benefits through Social Security and the VA
- Clothing
- Employment assistance
- Flu shots
- Health and dental screenings by Zufall Health
- HIV testing provided by Atlantic Healthcare
- Housing referrals
- Legal resources provided by Volunteer Lawyers for Justice
- Meals
- Morris County ID cards
- Personal care kits courtesy of the American Red Cross
- Professional hair cuts
This event is co-produced with Curtis Consulting Group and presented with the collaboration and support of the New Jersey Department of Labor Workforce Development, Operation Chill Out, American Red Cross, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 327, and VFW Post 3401 in Morris Plains.
A Food Service Coalition, comprised of some of Morristown’s best restaurants, will prepare the donated hot nutritious buffet lunch for veterans at the Stand Down.
Coalition members include Dublin Pub, Famished Frog, George & Martha’s American Grill, Urban Table (Harvest Restaurant Group), Drip Coffee, and ShopRite of Morristown.
Coalition members include Dublin Pub, Famished Frog, George & Martha’s American Grill, Urban Table (Harvest Restaurant Group), Drip Coffee, and ShopRite of Morristown.
For more information on Stand Down in Morristown, and for required volunteer or provider registration, visit: https://www.communityhope-nj.org/events.stand.down.php
For more information on Community Hope, visit: http://www.communityhope-nj.org/
For more information on Morris County's veterans' services, visit: