Goodwill Southern California and Community Partners to Hold 3rd Annual Veteran Stand Down Event in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) May 18, 2015 -- Goodwill Southern California (GSC), in partnership with Mayor Eric Garcetti, will hold its third annual Veteran Stand Down from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20 at Goodwill’s Los Angeles Campus (342 N. San Fernando Road, Los Angeles 90031).
A Stand Down is a military term designating that a combat unit is temporarily moved out of the field and back to base camp for rest and rehabilitation. It is now also used to describe organized community events for at-risk and homeless veterans and their families. GSC’s Stand Down offers a variety of free services including meals, clothing, haircuts and makeovers, health screenings, VA and Social Security benefits counseling, and referrals to other services such as housing, employment and substance abuse treatment for some 500 attendees. The event will also offer services and support for homeless female veterans and veterans with families.
“Goodwill is honored to partner with Mayor Garcetti to serve the basic needs and employment goals of our veteran community,” said Craig Smith, President and CEO of Goodwill Southern California, “By connecting our veterans to housing, healthcare and other supportive services, we help re-establish them in the civilian world so that they may transition into sustainable employment and create brighter futures for themselves and their families.”
Over forty community partners will participate, including the Veterans Administration, the Employment Development Department, the Department of Public Social Services, Clinica Romero, People Assisting The Homeless (PATH), The Salvation Army – Bell Shelter, U.S. Vets, American Red Cross, National Veterans Foundation, California Women’s Law Center., New Directions for Veterans, and Vet to Vet Institute. Other unique services will include yoga, haircuts, children’s activities, a pet area, a community collaborative American Flag mural where veterans and their families can use their creativity to pay tribute to our nation, a communications tent where homeless veterans can call or e-mail family and friends, and live musical entertainment during lunch.
About Goodwill Southern California: Transforming lives through the power of work, Goodwill Southern California (GSC) serves people with disabilities or other vocational challenges, as well as businesses, by providing education, training, work experience and job placement services. Each year, GSC prepares and places thousands of individuals into sustainable employment through programs and services offered at three campuses, Career Resource Centers, WorkSource Centers, Deaf, Youth and Veteran Employment Programs throughout Los Angeles (north of Rosecrans Ave.), Riverside and San Bernardino counties. GSC supports its mission with proceeds generated from 80 retail stores and 44 attended donation centers. Charity Navigator, an independent charity evaluator has awarded GSC its highest four-star ranking for 13 consecutive years; largely due to the fact GSC spends 93 percent of its budget on programs and services. Committed to caring for the earth, in 2014 GSC diverted 100 million pounds of reusable or recyclable goods from landfills, Goodwill is Good For Everyone! For more information about Goodwill Southern California, please call (888) 4-GOODWILL or visit http://www.GoodwillSoCal.org.
The Veteran Employment Program is funded through a grant from Los Angeles County Community & Senior Services; funding for the Homeless Female veterans/Veterans with Families program is provided by U.S. Department of Labor.
Sasha Itzikman, Goodwill Southern California, http://www.goodwillsocal.org, +1 323-979-9395, [email protected]
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