Stand Up To Stand Down Campaign Helps Homeless Veterans

Sign up for the Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch newsletter!

---

More than 7,500 pounds — the weight of about 25 refrigerators — of personal care items were collected, sorted and delivered during this year’s fourth annual Stand Up for Stand Down campaign.

The toiletry drive was put together by Pilot International Clubs, Georgia Cancer Specialists and Northside Hospital Cancer Institute to honor veterans and support them beyond their service.

Organizers say the community support was “an overwhelming success.”

The more than 7,500 pounds were collected at participating GCS clinics as well as other service and religious organizations that made substantial donations to this project.

“We truly make a difference in the lives of these often forgotten veterans,” said Robin L. Williams, the organizer and a research regulatory specialist for Northside. “To see their gratitude leaves us with a tremendous eagerness to do more.”

About 1,500 individual comfort bags that included travel size toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, hand sanitizer, combs/brushes, body wash/soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion and feminine products were prepared and donated on Oct. 17 to the Atlanta Veterans Affairs (VA) - Homeless Veterans Resource Center at Fort MacPherson.

Donations were received beginning July 4 through Sept. 30. Nearly 35 percent of total donations were generated by Cherokee County residents, Williams said.

The final donations were combined with donations from other organizations that provided veterans with clothing and footwear.

“The donated items such as hygiene packets, clothing and food provide our veterans with basic necessities that many take for granted,” said April Edwards, clinical director for Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Program.

Since the program was started, the annual Stand Up for Stand Down has doubled its donations each year.

During the months of August and September, volunteers from all over north and central Georgia gathered to sort the nearly four tons of donations. Two local Pilot International Clubs and their members hosted six “Sort and Pack Parties.”

This year, supporters included WSB-TV – Family2Family; Courier Express; Kroger; MySupplies; RVentures Medical, Key’s Jewelry in Canton and Wild Ginger Thai Restaurant.

There were volunteers from Federally Employed Women – Greater Atlanta Chapter and Pennies with Purpose.

Major donors were: Hugs for Soldiers – Duluth First United Methodist Church; The Military Ministry – Transfiguration Catholic Church of Marietta; AWANA – First Baptist Church of Woodstock and Montford Point Marines Ladies Auxiliary – Atlanta Chapter.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/SU4SD or call 770-864-5347.

---

Photo credits: Northside Hospital