North West Montana Veterans Stand Down

Veterans are a unique population. Due to their training they only rely on themselves and each other-they typically will not ask for help. We want to be here to have the services and help they need and offer a "Helping Hand" to them.

#1 Provide immediate relief from trauma and isolation. Veterans are brought together in a safe, secure area, with assurance that there is help available.

#2 Provide access to short and long term resources, food, clothing, medical care, housing,employment and community resources.

#3 Continual efforts to increase community awareness about our Veterans' needs and our individual and collective obligations.

#4 Develop long term solutions throughout the community, including transitional and permanent housing, drug and alcohol recovery, employment counseling and placement. Ultimately, self-sufficiency, re-entry and community validation.

We administer a multi-faceted operation designed to accommodate each individual's unique needs. Our mission is to offer wraparound services to our qualifying veterans through the many aspects of our program which include

* Raising community awareness to and advocating for the unmet needs of veterans.
* Nourishing hungry veterans and their families with nutritional food boxes.
* Equipping homeless and newly housed veteran households with clothing and furnishings.
* Outreaching as many veterans as possible through our biannual Stand Downs.
* Helping clients obtain Veterans Affair benefits and medical system enrollment.
* Providing veteran to veteran peer counseling and referrals to homeless shelters, housing, jobs, VA medical clinics, mental health specialists and other community resources.
* Building self esteem by extending a helping hand up NOT a hand out; we provide a warm welcome, haircuts by appointment, access to laundry & shower facilities and hot coffee.

In 2018 we received a total of 181,206 pounds of food for our veterans and their immediate families. Our local community donated 156,717 pounds, or 88 % of this total, we purchased 6% and the remaining 6% came from our state commodity program.

The other services we offer are Showers and Laundry facilities, Monthly Haircuts, Access to the Internet and Peer Counseling, Community Referrals for local services and Medical Equipment loans.

The Veterans Clothing & More Store is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Monday thru Friday from 10:00 am - 4:30 pm with the proceeds going to support our mission. We offer friendly service and quality merchandise at community prices.

Although we do request a monetary donation, we work with our clients on an individual basis to meet their needs. Through the generosity of community donations we have been able to outfit thousands of men, women and children of all ages with clothing, footwear, blankets, household items and furniture.

Qualifying homeless veterans are equipped biannually with seasonally appropriate One (Outfit) to Wash/One (Outfit) to Wear and offered access to shower and laundry facilities.

We also offer "move in" assistance to our newly housed Veterans. This includes the basic essentials and some furniture. We also try to make sure they have a bed and bedding. New Quilts that are donated by local churches in the Valley are given to the head of household to help them make a home.

Durable Medical Equipment loan program was created to help the spouse/ family members of veterans access to equipment they may need for short to long term needs. With the success of the program we have been able to expand and offer our services to our community. Many individuals who use our service are low-income or do not have insurance to cover their needs. Loans can be extended to 240 days or 8 months at which time they may purchase the item at a discounted price. In 2018 we served 950 people with Medical Equipment.

Camp Ponderosa Veterans Retreat and Learning Center located in the Swan Valley . North West Montana Veterans Stand Down plans to form the operation as a new entity called the Camp Ponderosa Veterans Support and Training Center. The central purpose of the facility will be as a positive place for veterans to go where they can do simple things such as camp, hike, and enjoy the nature and solitude, as well as a venue for them to engage with professionals brought in to provide instruction and treatment for the issues of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, and severe physical injuries. It will also offer respite care for veterans and their families through education, practice, and recreation.