Stand Down lends a helping hand to veterans
<p>Military surplus equipment and clothing was available to disabled and homeless veterans at the 22nd annual North Idaho Veterans Stand Down at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds on Saturday.</p>
<p>Air Force veteran Ken Spurrier, 56, of Spirit Lake receives a free dental exam from veteran and dentist Justin Rader of Generations Dental in Coeur d’Alene during the Stand Down on Saturday.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - In just the first three hours, more than 500 veterans gathered at the 22nd annual North Idaho Veterans Stand Down at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds on Saturday.
Sponsored by St. Vincent De Paul of North Idaho, the event catered food, provided a number of services, surplus clothing and numerous other provisions to local veterans.
Event coordinator Eric Swanbeck heralded this year's event as another success.
"The gracious donations of local business and volunteers stand evident of the local community's appreciation and commitment to our valued men and women who served," Swanbeck said.
Among the varied offerings, veterans received help with obtaining veterans affairs services, housing, employment, counseling resources, breakfast, lunch, medical and dental checkups, veterinary services for their animals, haircuts and much more.
The Stand Down also provided family activities for the first time in the event's history, which included a fishing line casting contest, an obstacle course with Nerf ball games, story time, face painting and a photo booth.
Roughly 60 businesses and organizations sponsored and contributed to this year's Stand Down.