AtHome America Family volunteers at local
Stand Down Event!
On Friday, August 24, a number of AtHome America’s independent sales contractors — or HomeStyle Specialists — and Home Team members participated in a Stand Down event in Chicago. Despite the high temperatures and heavy rains the night before, the group served approximately 450 homeless American veterans in need of food, clothing and other health and mental services, including counseling and information for drug and alcohol abuse.
Diane Steindl, HomeStyle Specialist from Edgerton, Wisconsin, made the two and a half hour trip to participate. “We left our home at 4:30 in the morning and didn’t get back until almost 10:30 that night, but it was so worth it,” she said. “Would I do it again? Absolutely. I won’t miss another Stand Down.”
Diane says the event made her feel gracious for all that she has. “These veterans look beat down. They feel forgotten. I would hand a pair of underwear to them and they would tear up. It was an amazing experience. All the things I take for granted. I can still see their faces when I close my eyes at night.”
The group handed out about 1,200 pairs of jeans to the veterans. The jeans were donated throughout the year by HomeStyle Specialists from all across America. The majority of the jeans were brought to AtHome America’s national convention in July. According to HelpAmerica Foundation Coordinator DC Curry, each veteran was given two pairs and the rest were donated to a local homeless veterans clothing shelter desperately in need of jeans.
The HelpAmerica Foundation also donated $5,500 to rent the armory where the event was held and purchased 650 pairs of socks and 600 laundry bags to donate to the event for distribution to the veterans.
“You feel like you've really changed someone's life,” said Jeff Kapitanek, part of the AHA Home Team. “It's empowering to know that you've helped someone who's done so much for you and your freedom.”
AHA volunteers worked to distribute clothing and then switched gears to help in the food tent. For more than 12 hours, the volunteers served food, stacked chairs, packed up clothing and prepared more than 600 bags of goods, including backpacks, underwear, socks, T-shirts, toiletries, laundry bags, washcloths, pajama pants and boots. After assembling the bags, the volunteers personally handed them to the veterans and thanked them for serving our nation so selflessly.
Jan Johnson, HomeStyle Specialist from Channahon, Illinois, also came to participate in the event with her husband, Al. She says she was truly touched by Stand Down and will continue to participate year after year.
“To see the gratefulness of the veterans as we helped them find clothes; when in reality WE are the ones who are grateful for all they have given to serve our country. The simple things that made them so happy — seeing their eyes light up as they tried on clothes that maybe didn't quite fit but yet made them feel like they were all dressed up! Also, being able to give the hard-to-fit larger sized men clothing that was plus-sized — they were so thrilled!” she exclaimed.
Thanks to ALL who participated in Stand Down! We look forward to continued participation and hope you will consider joining us for the next event! There are a number of Stand Down events being held this year ALL across America! Find an event near you and volunteer today!
For more information about Stand Down, please email DCCurry@helpamericafoundation.org. We are also looking for donations of jeans, shoes, T-shirts and larger men’s sized clothing. If you would like to make a donation, please contact DC Curry.
Upcoming Stand Downs!
The following Stand Down events and/or organizations received grant money from the HelpAmerica Foundation. We would encourage anyone who lives near these events to volunteer!
| Dec. 25 | The Kenny Nickelson Memorial Foundation for Homeless Vets and kids, San Luis Obispo, California | $2,500 |
* If you have any questions, please contact HelpAmerica Foundation Coordinator DC Curry at 1-800-928-4663, ext 258 or email dccurry@helpamericafoundation.org.
For a full list of Stand Down events for 2007, visit www.nchv.org.
Past Stand Down Efforts!
The HelpAmerica Foundation was proud to donate to these Stand Downs in 2007.
| Feb. 24-25 | Wisconsin Veteran Stand Down, Milwaukee, WI | $5,000 |
| March 5-6 | National Association of Systems Administrations Education Corp. Crystal Lake, IL | $5,000 |
| March 31 | The Kenny Nickelson Memorial Foundation for Homeless Vets and kids, Los Angeles, CA | $7,500 |
| April 21 | St. Louis Area Stand Down Committee, St. Louis, MO | $2,500 |
| April 27-29 | Freedoms Foundation, Valley Forge, PA | $7,500 |
| May 17 | The Kenny Nickelson Memorial Foundation for Homeless Vets and kids, Los Angeles, CA | $7,500 |
| May 17-18 | MACV, Minneapolis, MN | $5,000 |
| June 8-10 | North Coast Stand Down, Arcata, California | $7,500 |
| June 22-23 | Heart of America Stand Down Foundation, Kansas City, MO | $5,000 |
| July 13 | Veterans Village of San Diego, San Diego, CA | $7,500 |
| July 27-29 | Ventura County Stand Down, Camarillo, CA | $7,500 |
| Aug. 10-11 | Veterans Benefits Clearinghouse, Inc., Boston, MA | $5,000 |
| Aug. 11 | Vietnam Veterans of America, Hamilton, MT | $2,500 |
| Aug. 24 | MACV, Duluth, MN | $2,500 |
| Aug. 24-25 | Chicago Veterans Economic Development, Oak Park, IL | $5,500 |
| Aug. 25 | Fairbanks Stand Down, Fairbanks, AK | $2,500 |
| Sept. 14 | HVAF of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN | $2,500 |
| Sept. 14 | American Legion Post 0002, Asheville, NC | $2,500 |
| Sept. 15-16 | Center for Veterans Issues, LTD, Racine, WI | $5,000 |
| Sept. 15-17 | PATHS, Lynn Haven, FL | $7,500 |
| Sept. 21 | Stand Down of South Jersey, Inc., Cherry Hill, NJ | $2,500 |
| Sept. 21-22 | Wichita Independent Neighborhoods, Wichita, KS | $5,000 |
| Sept 21-22 | Veteran Community Programs, Inc., Fresno, CA | $5,000 |
| Sept. 21-23 | Operation Stand Down Rhode Island, Johnston, RI | $7,500 |
| Oct. 2-4 | Operation Hand Up, Vacaville, CA | $7,500 |
| Oct. 5-7 | Northwest Montana Veterans Stand Down, Libby, MT | $7,500 |
| Oct. 12-14 | Operation Stand Down Nashville, Inc., Nashville, TN | $7,500 |
| Oct. 13 | Central Oregon Veterans Outreach, Inc., Bend, OR | $2,500 |
| Oct. 13 | Workforce PLUS, Tallahassee, FL | $2,500 |
| Oct. 15-17 | North Valley Stand Down Association, Redding, CA | $7,500 |
| Oct. 19-20 | Nevada County All Veterans Stand Down, CA | $5,000 |
Promote the HelpAmerica Foundation!
AtHome America offers a brand new HelpAmerica Foundation brochure that you can use to promote our efforts. To request your FREE copy, please contact HelpAmerica Foundation Coordinator DC Curry at dccurry@helpamericafoundation.org.
You can also purchase AtHome America's Words of Truth, Pride and Patriotism for $5; 100% of the proceeds go to homeless American veterans and/or veterans supportive services in the U.S.
In 2002, AtHome America and the HelpAmerica Foundation launched its “Thanks a Million” campaign. Through in-home presentations around the country called HomeShows, as well as through the website and Catalogs, the goal was to make 1 million citizens aware of the plight of so many who have given so much for our freedom. The company-wide commitment has grown from a small endeavor — just over $10,000 in the first year — to millions of dollars.
To make a donation to the HelpAmerica Foundation, or to request more information, please contact DC Curry.
CLICK HERE to watch video clip of Stand Down.
