Volunteers provide for veterans

---

Tweet

Jim McGaugh made his rounds through the free service stations at the Michigan Hall of Justice on Wednesday flanked by many of his fellow homeless veterans. McGaugh received a master’s degree at MSU before joining the armed forces, and said he suffered head injuries during service that left him permanently disabled.

When McGaugh returned from duty to the U.S., he said he eventually found himself without a place to live.

“Shame on America for allowing a veteran to go homeless,” he said. “Any veteran that has served his country honorably should be guaranteed a place to live and a roof over their head for the rest of
their life.”

McGaugh was one of numerous homeless veterans using the services at the seventh annual Capital Area Stand Down for Homeless Veterans hosted by the Volunteers of America. The event offered free food, checkups with nurses, vision tests, hair cuts, assistance with employment and legal help to soldiers without a home after their service was completed.

“This is kind of a one-stop shopping trip for a veteran,” McGaugh said. “There’s so many organizations and services provided for veterans in one place.”

A crowd of volunteers saluted veterans such as McGaugh, and watched as keynote speaker General Robert W. Smith III took the stage. Smith said in June he will become director of veteran services for the state of Michigan and will do what he can to bring aid to those in attendance.

“It’s my way of giving back as a senior leader of this country,” he said. “I want to help advance those who have shed blood, sweat and everything else for this country.”

Smith said he hopes the event will have a positive impact on the veterans and set them on a path to improving their lives.

“It’s hopefully a start for some of (the veterans) to reconnect with the various agencies that are available,” Smith said. “Sometimes, by giving them a hot meal and fresh hair cut, they have a new outlook on life.”

About 10 years ago, members of Volunteers of America realized they needed to get involved with veteran services because one in three homeless men are war veterans, said Patrick Patterson, the vice president of operations at Volunteers of America Michigan.

“It warms my heart and I’m very passionate about this,” Patterson said. “In the homeless population there’s a lot of needs, but I really feel compelled to do something about the situation the homeless veterans face.”

Stand Down “originated in times of war when soldiers were given the opportunity to rest from combat, and have become common as a means to care for homeless veterans,” according to the Volunteers of America website.

“It’s awesome and I love Stand Down,” Patterson said. “It’s probably my favorite event of the year. What I really like about it is you get to talk about the issue and advocate for it, but also it’s a place where folks who want to help can meet veterans in a low-key picnic-like atmosphere.”

---