Community Hope Hosts Fourth Annual Stand Down in Morristown Supporting At-Risk & Homeless Veterans

PARSIPPANY, NJ — Community Hope, the leading nonprofit organization in New Jersey serving homeless veterans and veteran families, is hosting the Fourth Annual Stand Down in Morristown.

At the Stand Down, veterans will have access to free Federal, State, public and private support including: social and personal care services, legal resources, health and dental screenings, haircuts, clothing, hot buffet lunch prepared by prominent Morristown restaurants, housing referrals, Social Security and VA benefit information and employment assistance.

“Stand Downs provide the opportunity to engage with our neediest veterans,” said J. Michael Armstrong, Chief Executive Officer of Community Hope, whose agency 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 them and earn their trust so that they are willing to accept the basic essentials they need and the services we provide.”

Applauded by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie for the efforts, this event is co-produced with Curtis Consulting Group, LLC and presented with the collaboration and support of: the NJ Department of Labor Workforce Development, The American Red Cross, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 327 and the VFW Post 3401 in Morris Plains. Each year more than 50 supportive services organizations and 150 volunteers gather to guide and assist the veterans with a wide variety of support.

The Food Service Coalition, comprised of Morristown restaurants, prepares the donated hot nutritious buffet lunch for veterans at the Stand Down. Coalition members include: The Dublin Pub, The Famished Frog, George & Martha’s American Grill, Urban Table (Harvest Restaurant Group), Drip Coffee, and ShopRite of Morristown.

Veterans may access the Stand Down through free transportation provided at ten (10) locations in eight (8) NJ counties – Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren. Pick-up and drop-off locations to the Armory will be posted on Community Hope’s website and the Stand Down in Morristown Facebook page in addition to distribution through providers and supporters.

The goal of the Stand Down is to help ensure that homeless and at-risk veterans are provided with supportive services and housing opportunities. In times of war, exhausted combat units requiring time to rest and recover were removed from the battlefields to a place of relative security and safety. At secure base camp areas, troops were able to take care of personal hygiene, get clean uniforms, enjoy warm meals, receive medical and dental care, mail and receive letters, and enjoy the camaraderie of friends in a safe environment.

Today, a Stand Down refers to a grassroots, community-based intervention program designed to help the nation’s estimated 107,000 homeless veterans on any given night “combat” life on the streets. Homeless veterans are brought together in a single location for one to three days and provided access to the community resources needed to address their individual needs.

Volunteers are needed and may register to assist with a variety of activities from event set-up and break down to staffing on event days as a Veteran Guide or distributing free clothing.