…PUEBLO, Colo. (KKTV) – Pueblo’s annual ‘Stand Down for homeless veterans‘ is serving free meals, clothing, cold weather gear, along with health screenings and counseling before the cold winter months make way. The ‘Stand Down’ on Tuesday, Sept. 27th takes place at the American Legion Post, starting at 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Located in Colorado Springs, but attending the event in Pueblo… Next Chapter‘s, Project Manager … told 11 News, that the Stand Down in Pueblo was originally going to be scrapped this year… due to zero funding. “Nobody, no other veteran organization in Pueblo, put in for the grants… the funding that’s required to do the Stand Down,” Jose Ramirez, Next Chapter‘s Project Manager, explained. “So, what Next Chapter did, UCHealth did… is what we normally do. We bring everybody together, we brought all the veteran organizations together in one room, and we collaborated with one another when we pulled all … our resources together so that we can have a Stand Down for the veterans this year.” With the heart of all teams pulling together resources and funding, the Stand Down collected 5,000 dollars for the event and even gained more vendors with resources, a total of 26… compared to last year’s number, 18. “I’m more proud of this one than I was last year,” Ramirez … an oath… so we, as citizens, we owe that to them. And I think by them seeing that we came together without zero funding from anybody, we were able to make this happen. I think the messaging that we want will be a positive one, and then it’ll set conditions for us to transition from a Homeless Veteran Stand Down to an actual Veterans Resource Fair.” The Stand Down in Pueblo will also have a dentist giving free checkups, along with a veterinarian doing exams on veterans‘ service dogs. To all the organizations, it’s more than just helping with resources and … materials… it’s about being a lending hand in helping homeless veterans get back on their feet. New intake forms will help track veterans on where they’re at, what they need with the situations they’re in, their progress, and how Pueblo County and these organizations can help them in the future. “Once a homeless veteran goes through the through the Stand Down, we want to track that person throughout the year so ….…
KKTV.com – Despite no grants, Pueblo and Colorado Springs communities come together to help homeless veterans
