Stand Down losing funding

The North Idaho Veterans' Stand Down, a yearly event that assists vets in need, won't be receiving its $8,000 contribution from the Department of Defense this year as it has in the past due to budget cuts.

John Dunlap, the American Legion commander in Post Falls and an organizer of the Stand Down, made the announcement during Thursday's Project Homeless Connect.

Dunlap said the Stand Down will still be held on Sept. 29 at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds thanks to funding saved from previous years.

However, in the future, the event will take on a different format with perhaps fewer donations due to tight funding.

"The people will come to us with specific needs and the number of people (needing assistance)," Dunlap said. "They won't necessarily be able to leave with three or four sleeping bags."