Vets gets clothes, food other help at Brunswick National Guard Armory

Vets gets clothes, food other help at Brunswick armory

'Stand Down' event includes clothing, haircuts and more
Posted: August 27, 2011

By Terry Dickson
Men and women who left the military decades ago got some new uniform clothing Friday.

The Army National Guard Armory in Brunswick was lined with tables of new but outdated uniforms and other surplus equipment that volunteers handed out to veterans in the annual Stand Down for Veterans. Although the event concentrated on the homeless, volunteers and agency staff members didn't turn any needy people away.

Gregory Senters of the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center in Dublin, who coordinated the event, said it couldn't happen without the local veterans organizations and other volunteers. Among them was Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Justin Irwin, who came with a contingent of Coast Guardsmen who were handing out clothing.

"It's just people pretty much at the bottom and these people are out here to help them," Irwin said of the Salvation Army, American Red Cross and other agencies set up at the armory.

Irwin said it was heartwarming to see the reaction of the homeless veterans.

There were socks, blankets, underwear, shirts, pants, a bag of toiletries provided by Target and a duffel bag to carry it all in. Those who wanted it left with a full stomach after a free spaghetti lunch cooked by the Salvation Army.

The Humane Society of Coastal Georgia was also there to help veterans with their pets.
"We ran out of dog food," said Leigh Anne Estrada of the Humane Society. "We also brought collars and leashes. Last year, guys were walking around with men's neckties around their dogs."
Senters said a lot of vets have dogs, and not just for the companionship. "That's your alarm system under the bridge," he said.

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