2024 Maricopa StandDown Summary

2024 Maricopa County StandDown

On March 21 - 22, 2024, the Arizona Veterans StandDown Alliance (AVSA) held the Maricopa County StandDown at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. It was our honor to welcome 1,276 veterans and their families experiencing housing instability, homelessness, and other hardship.

The event assisted veterans in getting connected to housing and supportive services, resources available all year but assembled in one place for two days of intensive outreach and assistance. Thank you to everyone who made the event a huge success!

Outcomes

From legal services and eye exams to veterinary care, emergency shelter placement, housing information and more, we were able to provide support and resources to over 1,200 veterans at this year's Maricopa County StandDown! Thank you to every service provider, volunteer, sponsor, and everyone in between that helped make this event possible for our beloved veterans.

"She got me legal again." THIS is why we do #StandDown.
Posted by Maricopa County Justice Courts on Monday, March 25, 2024

From our Veterans

brian's story

An Army Veteran, Brian arrived just as the sun was rising on day 2 of the event. As myself and 3 volunteers erected the tents to ensure that when the sun rose, there'd be plenty of shade, Brian jumped in to help with the last few tents. As we began to walk away, Brian asked if we could talk. He didn't know who I was. He asked if he could tell me about a dream he had the night prior - a vision he hoped to relay. He went on to describe a dream in which all of the hundreds of compassionate people involved with StandDown wrote 1000 letters to active duty soldiers. I told him we just may be able to make that happen, and he was overcome with emotion. He was serving our nation when 9/11 happened. While he was never deployed overseas, he watched his friends and fellow soldiers leaving - some never to return; others, forever changed. He felt guilt that he wasn't called up to help, and wished he could write letters to every single person deployed.

cole's story

Cole, a former Marine, came to StandDown hoping to reinstate his suspended commercial drivers license. Cole recently secured a job with a trucking company and needed to sort this our before his first day on the job. He discovered that while his drivers license was in fact not suspended, he did have fines to his name that were long unpaid - totalling $5,000. After a judged adjudicated his case, his restitution requirement decreased from $5k, to 3 hours of community service. Through coordination between the courts, and Keys to Change volunteer managers, Cole served his 3 hours of community service, and he ended the day with a clear record and the confidence to start off on the right foot with a new employer. To add to the joy of his day - he found out that his 15 year old daughter had been admitted to ASU's pre-med program. As young as 3 years of age, she'd looked at her dad, a Marine, and declared - "Daddy when I grow up I want to be a doctor for soldiers like you." Cole left the event with a full heart and a broad smile. In his words, "this was one of the best days of my life."

From our Volunteers

Linda's Story

In her mid-60's, Linda was the first to arrive to volunteer - both event days. Linda is housing insecure and in and out of various living arrangements, still, giving back and remaining resilient - is a family affair. Linda has been involved in the creation of several still-operating non-profits. Her daughter Jessica was featured at 14 years old in a news article for having completed a marathon while unhoused, and joined us today for some volunteer hours of her own. She put her whole heart into volunteering at StandDown - including helping to set up the 20-odd tents for the veterans registration line - before the sun even came up. She could be seen throughout the event waling alongside vets and chatting up a storm. Short in stature, HUGH HEART!

Sandee's Story

Sandee’s Story: Sandee has been volunteering for this event for over 15 years, and works at USAA - one of the most consistent and prolific volunteer groups year after year. She said it was one of the best-managed StandDown events she's ever attended. As a guest guide, she asked her veteran guest what brought him to the event - expecting to hear a list of services - eye exam, employment, a new pair of shoes. Instead, he simply said "I come every year. This is a safe space. I know the volunteers won't judge me, I know my brothers in arms will be here. More than anything - it's the people."

Stories
Sometimes, giving back transforms our lives in ways we never imagined. Two volunteers and two veterans share their remarkable stories of how coming together changed them.

THANK YOU!

A heartfelt thank you to the Maricopa County StandDown Planning Committee:
Anthony Irby- US Department of Veterans Affairs
April Jones-AZ DES
Barb Sesate- Volunteer Provider Liaison
Ben Hartley and Donald Young-Sodexo
Bill Boyer-Community Bridges, Inc.
Dan Morgan- Phoenix VA Health Care System
Dee Person- Arizona Coalition for Military Families
Don Borland-Volunteer Clothing Drive Coordinator
Gary Kula and David Hintze- Maricopa County Dept. Of Public Defender
Griselda Cabrera-AZ DOT
Jack Burns-SSA
Julie Carlson- Vets for Pets
Kim Beaudoin, Martin Roth, and Liz Roed-Keys to Change
Marcie Kanefield and the Maricopa County Superior Courts
Michelle Jameson-U.S. Vets-Phoenix
Nisha Dorsey-DVS

To all volunteers and providers, thank you for volunteering your time and expertise to help us organize and execute our event. We are beyond grateful for your support at the Maricopa County StandDown! Your presence made a significant impact on the success of the event and contributed to creating a positive experience for all attendees. We are grateful for your participation and appreciate your willingness to support our cause.
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