A Seattle Stand Down moment from 2011 (Image: Seattle Central)

When veterans return home from war, they can end up feeling completely lost.

“They’re put out to pasture and they’re like ‘what do I do now?’” said Derek Mapes, who finished a stint in the airforce in 2010.

Often facing PTSD and homelessness, many veterans have a difficult time navigating the myriad of services and benefits available to them, Mapes said.

“It’s like dealing with the DMV,” he said. “You’re always in the wrong department.”

Mapes is a volunteer with Seattle Stand Down, a one-day comprehensive service program for homeless and disadvantaged veterans taking place September 11 that aims to address those problems. You can learn more and sign up to volunteer at theseattlestanddown.com.

The program, named after the military term for relief from duty, is in its third year of operation. Veterans can receive help signing up for VA and HUD benefits as well as a hot meal, a haircut, and a foot wash.

Many veterans do not know the full extent of the benefits they are entitled to, including disability and pension claims, Mapes said.

“That’s money,” he said. “Not much, but it’s money they’ve been missing out on.”

By consolidating all of the resources in one place, Mapes said Seattle Stand Down will be able to ensure veterans have a better understanding of the help available to them.

“All of these services are in one house,” Mapes said.

FareStart will be providing the hot meals as well as recruiting for their culinary training program.

Mapes said Seattle Stand Down is expecting to serve around 400 veterans with their volunteer staff of 150. Over the next few weeks, Mapes and other volunteers will be reaching out to the homeless community with posters and radio ads, trying to get the word out about the services available.

“Our issue is raising enough money and volunteer support,” he said.

The Seattle Stand Down will be occurring Wednesday, September 11, 2013 from 9AM-2PM at Seattle Central Community College’s Mitchell Activity Center. Women’s services will be provided in the Broadway Performance Hall across the street. Parties interested in getting involved can visit Seattle Stand Down’s website.

A scamp (Image: CHS)

CHS told you earlier about the expanded offerings of Pride 2013 on Capitol Hill including a new family picnic — and, next week (already!), the Gay Day of Service to help the Chamber of Commerce clean up Capitol Hill on June 1st.

Here’s the Chamber of Commerce’s Michael Wells with an impassioned plea for you to help sweep up your neighborhood and have some good clean fun:

The Clean Sweep is an annual event produced by the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce that sends hundreds of community volunteers out into the neighborhood to clean the streets and show stewardship for the Capitol Hill neighborhood. This year’s event will happen on Saturday, June 1, starting at 10am at the Cal Anderson Park Shelterhouse –with breakfast and coffee provided by Starbucks – and ending at 12pm back at the Shelterhouse with lunch provide by Pagliacci Pizza.

The Clean Sweep is a fun, family friendly event (kids love it) that the Chamber has been producing for the past 5 years. Previous to that it was produce by the Broadway BIA. Last year’s event brought out over 200 neighbors, students, families, seniors and community groups who cleaned over 23 city blocks. We expect this year’s turnout to be even greater! We’re partnering with Seattle PrideFest for their Gay Day of Service (an opportunity for LGBT community members to spend the first day of June volunteering in the community). We’ll be covering Broadway from Roy to Union, Pike/Pine from 15th to Melrose and Olive Way.

Clean Sweep is a great way for residents and the business community to connect in a way that benefits our neighborhood and builds community. It’s an act of stewardship that creates awareness and safety in our neighborhood. Making sure that public spaces are active, well-used and lively is the first step towards making those spaces sage for our community. And keeping those spaces clean shows that a neighborhood is engaged, attentive and responsive.

Cleaning supplies will be provided. Just bring yourself and your friends. We’ll provide coffee, pizza, music and (fingers crossed!) sunshine! This is a very popular event, lots of food, fun and good works. We hope that you’ll join us!

UPDATE: Wells reminds there is also a food drive as part of the day of service on the Hill:

As a part of our annual Clean Sweep event we’ve added a food drive element benefitting the food bank at Jewish Family Service.  For over 120 years Jewish Family Service has been serving the Jewish and broader communities.  They deliver essential human services to alleviate suffering, sustain healthy relationships and support people in times of need.

The Jewish Family Service Food Bank is a member of the Seattle Food Committee. They serve people of all backgrounds who live in zip codes 98121, 98122, 98101, 98112…as well as providing kosher food for those in the Jewish community who request it.

By bringing a food donation to the Clean Sweep in Saturday, June 1^st, you will be directly helping those in the Capitol Hill community.  It’s a great way to be a good neighbor.

Follow this link for more information information on donations and services at the JFS Food bank, including the most pressing donation needs.

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http://www.jfsseattle.org/uploads/pdf/FoodBnkFacts.pdf