Yesterday, Long Island Cares participated the 2017 Nassau County Summer Stand Down held at American Legion Post 390 in Hempstead. This event was hosted by County Executive Ed Mangano and the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency. Other governmental and nonprofit agencies present included: Nassau County Departments of Social Services, Health, and Human Services, the Northport VA Hospital, Salvation Army, New York State Division of Veterans Affairs, and the Red Cross. Attending veterans received assistance securing entitled benefits, legal advice, and job counseling.
We deployed the Long Island Cares’ Veterans Project Mobile Outreach Unit to this successful event which gave us the capacity to distribute greater than 700 pounds of fresh produce and paper products to 110 veterans in need. Moreover, Fern Summer, our Veteran Life Skills Specialist, set up inside and distributed information on our renowned VetsWork program which has placed 68 veterans in gainful employment to date! Other services made available for attending veterans included haircuts and a delicious barbecued lunch.
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the Nassau County Department of Veterans Services, led by Director Ralph Esposito, for putting together yet another successful Stand Down. We also commend all the volunteers, many of whom are veterans themselves, who make this event possible each year and continue to help their fellow brothers and sisters in arms access the assistance they need.
