VietNow National Magazine

VietNow Soldiers on the Front Lines of Homelessness

by Jim Proffitt

When Chicago held its Stand Down for Homeless Veterans, VietNow was there. This was a unique stand down. Not only does the stand down provide needed services for the veterans, but it gives them the camaraderie they once knew. And the participating veterans groups enjoy it too.

The VFW, American Legion, VietNow, VVA, VVNW, Italian War Veterans, and the Marine Corps League were all there working together for the betterment of veterans. It was something to see as all the veterans organizations seemed to bond together for their fellow veterans.

VietNow outdid itself.

Wherever there was a need for help, VietNow was there. If it was hooking up generators, moving chairs, tables, loading or unloading truck, providing security, or working on meals, VietNow was there.

We had 772 veterans who utilized the Stand Down, plus approximately 250 volunteers and staff. And VietNow was there from start to finish.

After helping with Friday dinner, we had a chance to talk with the people who were spending the night. As we were helping out late Friday night, it was heartwarming to see Jeannie Douglas and Phil Meyer walking around the Armory making sure everyone had enough blankets, sheets, pillows, or whatever they needed to spend the night. After all the work these two do to put on this Stand Down, they make sure the veterans are “tucked in” for the night before they rest.

Saturday started out with breakfast hosted by VVA, and VietNow was there to help. Once we got through breakfast, it was time to set up for the VietNow lunch. We served sloppy joes, buns, salads, beans, fruit, desserts, and juice with plans to help making sandwiches later in the day for the sack lunches to go once the Stand Down winds down and closes around 5 PM.

Answering the call.

VietNow had a great turnout of volunteers from various chapters: Berwyn/Cicero, DuPage, Central Illinois, McHenry, Rock River Valley, Tri-County, and National Board members. We had lots of volunteers, and it’s a good thing we did, because just about 11:30 AM (lunch was to be served at noon) we were asked to make 600 sack lunches to go and have them ready by 2 PM, while we were at the same time serving lunch. Holy Cow!

We took a deep breath and split our volunteers…half to serve lunch and the other half to make sandwiches around the corner. I don’t know of any other organization that could have pulled this off, but VietNow feeding 772 veterans, plus approximately 250 volunteers, and at the same time making 600 sack lunches…it was a monumental task.

A job extremely well done.

VietNow not only once again lived up to their motto of “Veterans Helping Veterans” but to paraphrase the chapter that hosted the hospitality room – proved to be a “kick-ass organization.”

The end of the stand down on Saturday consisted of passing out ditty bags of socks, clothes, blankets, and of course sack lunches, and wishing everyone well.

A big thanks goes out to everyone who helped, and to the Villa Park VFW Post 2801, who let us pre-cook a lot of our food. Without you, the ones who helped wherever we needed help, this Stand Down could not have gone on and been such a success.

You should have been there.

I wish everyone could be on the food run the Sunday after Stand Down and get the feedback from a lot of these men and women. They would know that all their hard work had been well worth it.

Jim Proffitt is the VietNow National Homeless Chairman.

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