Annual Homeless Stand Down Event Provides Many With Resources

and Help

IDAHO FALLS— Local community organizations and volunteers joined

forces to showcase services available and provide awareness to those

in need.

More than 50 volunteers showed up on Saturday, Feb. 1, at the

Veterans Memorial Hall to give of their time and provide services

many were unaware of. Various organizations provided information

and free items to anyone that came and wanted it.

Darrell Anderson is a local man that is currently homeless. Darrel

came to the event to collect some resources and said that he has come

in the past and enjoyed it.

“I like the resources and to learn new things available,” Anderson

said. “It is a rare chance to be among people for me. It is surprisingly

generous here.”

Katie Peterson of Club Inc. helped to put the event on along with the

help and support of all of the other organizations in attendance. She

explained how it wasn’t just one group that did all the work but was a

combination of all the different groups working together to help

others that can use it.

“We are trying to raise awareness and make a difference for the

individuals in our community,” Peterson said. “The community does

such a great job at coming together and donating whenever there is a

need.”

Some of the things available at this year’s event included free flu

shots and medical screenings, ride passes provided by TRPTA, $50

medical and dental vouchers that were donated, information about

housing options and other services such as counseling, educational,

and job training help.

Along with the services provided there were also hundreds of donated

coats, sleeping bags and mats and thousands of items of clothing from

hats, and gloves, to shoes, and pants for the whole family.

Local volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

have been working since last September to crochet more than 65

sleeping mats using recycled plastic grocery bags. They also collected

more than 200 coats to bring to, and give away at the event.

The Catholic Charities of Idaho received a generous donation of coats

and have given out more than 150 so far as well as giving out sleeping

bags, gloves and hats.

The Catholic Charities of Idaho also provides services to anyone

regardless of their religious affiliation and some of the things that

they help with include counseling, help with job preparation, and

helping with the legal immigration process.

For most of the volunteers and organizations in attendance this is

much more than a one day event, it is what they do each day to help

and advocate for those in need.

Lin Graham of the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission explained more about

why she was in attendance, and what the Rescue Mission has to offer

for the community.

“We’re just here telling the community about our facility and the

services we have,” Graham said. “We have four shelters for men,

women, and women with children. We also serve dinner 365 days a

year open to the public and all of the meals are prepared by

volunteers.”

Graham and the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission were also giving our meal

tickets attached to granola bars at the event.

“We’re giving out meal tickets so people know where we are located,

and that there is a hot meal every single night,” Graham said.

On average the Rescue Mission serves anywhere from 50-100 people

dinner every night.

The Idaho Falls Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness

referred to as NAMI provided both breakfast, and lunch for all in

attendance at the event while the Idaho Falls Civitan Club helped to

serve the meals.

Irene Robicheaux of the local Civitan Club explained why they were

there volunteering.

“It’s just what we do,” Robicheaux said. “We love the club. We love

the people. The whole idea is to get together and help the

community.”

A final head count of close to 300 people came through the facility

that day with more than 15 different organizations providing much

needed resources.

Diane Nielson of Life Inc. expressed how much she enjoyed the event

and what a success it was this year.

“We come every year and help out,” Nielson said. “It’s a wonderful

event and if nothing else people are becoming aware of our services.”