WHO/WHAT: The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Stand Down of South Jersey Committee, Inc. will co-host Stand Down 2007 to provide homeless veterans with access to healthcare, mental health screening, substance abuse counseling, social services availability, religious counseling, a hot meal, a haircut and winter clothing.

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 21 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: Army National Guard Armory, Grove St. and Park Blvd., Cherry Hill

DETAILS: The estimated 8,000 homeless veterans in New Jersey will have an opportunity to receive a ‘hand up … not a hand out' during the South Jersey Stand Down.  This is the seventh year Stand Down held at the Cherry Hill Armory.   Last year 1151 homeless veterans and their families attended Stand Downs in Cherry Hill and Newark.

Stand Down comes from the military term referring to exhaust combat units that were removed from the battlefront to a place of security and safety for rest and recovery.  Today Stand Downs are grass roots, community-based intervention program to help veterans' battle life on the streets.

The organizations supporting Stand Down 2007 are DMAVA, Stand Down of South Jersey, Inc., the Veterans Administration, The Retired Officers Association, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Marine Corps League, American Ex-Prisoners of War, Veterans of Foreign War, Gold Star Wives, Jewish War Veterans, Burlington County Veterans Services Office, Camden County Veterans Services Office, Camden County Board of Social Services, Community Services of Camden County, U.S. Department of Labor, and the Fort Dix post chaplains.

To donate goods or services for the Stand Down contact Kelli Swift at (609) 530-7052.

Homeless Veterans or their families can call the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs toll free number at 1-888-8NJ VETS for more information on available entitlements.