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Picente:
Announces ‘Stand Down 2008’
To
Connect Veterans With Jobs, Services
Oneida
County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. today announced that
Oneida
County, in partnership with the Workforce Investment Board, is sponsoring
“Stand Down 2008” on January 30th to connect local veterans
in need of assistance with a wide range of job training and community
support services.
“As
part of my initiative to assist our community’s veterans, and to help
connect veterans with the services in this community that can help them find
jobs, deal with personal or health issues, or simply re-connect with other
veterans to create new bonds of comradeship, I am pleased that
Oneida
County
is able to sponsor this event,” Picente said. “ I know that across our
region, veterans who have served their country have come upon hard times and
need a hand up to recover. ‘Stand Down’ can help meet the needs of
veterans who can attend this one-day event, and help rally the community
behind our veterans by placing added emphasis on the needs of the homeless
veteran population and all veterans.”
“Stand
Down 2008” will be held from 9: 30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, January 30th
at the Salvation Army,
14 Clinton Place
,
Utica
.
“Stand Down” is being
coordinated by the Jobs and Hope Project, a collaboration between
Oneida
County Workforce Development and the Workforce Investment Board designed to
address the needs of homeless and at-risk adults. Veterans
in
Oneida
, Herkimer or
Madison
counties who want to attend the event, but have transportation issues,
should contact Jobs and Hope for Veterans Counselor
Mark Hediger at 315-731-7385. Agencies
that want to be present to provide free services, referrals, screenings or
other information should also call Hediger at 315-731-7385.
Workforce Investment Board
Executive Director Alice J. Savino said “Stand Down” events, which bring
together agencies that can help veterans in a one-day event, began back in
1998 in
San Diego
. “Through these events, veterans with needs
are provided with a broad range of necessities including food, clothing,
medical, legal and mental health assistance, job counseling and referral,
and most importantly, companionship and camaraderie. It is a time for the
community to connect with the veteran population and address this crisis
that affects each and every town, city and state in this country,” Savino
said. “The hand up -- not a handout -- philosophy of Stand Down is carried
out through the partnership that is formed to pull this event together and
to develop stronger teamwork to address the needs of all veterans.”
Savino
said that “Stand Down” was developed to serve homeless veterans, but
that all veterans with needs related to job training and other human service
issues are welcome to attend.
For further information on
workforce development programs targeting veterans and other area residents,
contact Alice Savino at 793-6037.
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