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11/1/2012 - West Side Leader
     

By Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Debbie Jeffers

SOUTH AKRON — The seventh annual Summit County Stand Down for homeless and displaced veterans was held Sept. 11 at Firestone Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post No. 3383 on West Waterloo Road. Approximately 400 veterans went through the lines, receiving clothing, blankets, hot soup, medical services, boots, gloves and haircuts, all at no charge, according to event officials.

The Stand Down is sponsored by the Summit County Veterans Council and coordinated by Summit County veterans service organizations, VFWs and auxiliaries, according to event officials.

The name of the event comes from a term used in times of war, when exhausted combat units had time to rest and recover. Today it refers to a grassroots, community-based intervention program to help veterans combat life on the streets, according to event officials.

Shown at right, Hudson resident Richard Irvine, a 94-year-old World War II Tinian Island, U.S. Air Force veteran, received a haircut from Barberton resident Debbie Jeffers, of Firestone VFW Post No. 3383 and Sandy’s Hair Express.