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Help Make a Difference: Vendors and Volunteers Needed for 2026 Homeless Veteran Stand Down
 Kent County Veterans Services is looking for both vendors and volunteers to help with the 2026 Homeless Veteran Stand Down event on Thursday, September 24, from 9:30am - 1:30pm, which will be held at 1222 Bradford Street NE in Grand Rapids.
The free resource event provides veterans with community resources such as food, clothing, health screenings and assistance with disability claims. It also allows veterans to connect with other veterans in our community.
“Kent County is deeply committed to supporting our veterans, especially those who are most vulnerable,” said Ryan Grams, Director of Kent County Veterans Services. “Our veterans have dedicated themselves to serving our country, and it’s our duty and privilege to provide them with the resources and assistance they need."
About 150 veterans attended the 2025 Stand Down and this year we plan to serve just as many veterans or more. The Stand Down is put on each year thanks to a partnership between Veterans Services and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
"We are grateful for this partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and hope this helps get veterans back on their feet and improve their quality of life," Grams added.
Veterans Services is currently looking for vendors who can provide essential support services to our veterans including:
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Immediate Needs: Food, clothing, and health screenings.
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Long-term Support: Help with VA claims, healthcare, and housing solutions.
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Personal Wellness: Employment assistance, mental health counseling, and substance use treatment.
If you are interested in becoming a vendor, please read the rules and understand our mission before you register your organization using the button below.
About 30 volunteers are needed to help with directing traffic, parking, helping veterans find resources, prepping food, and carrying boxes of non-perishable food items from Community Action to vehicles. If you are interested, please complete the volunteer registration form below. For groups, each person will need to register individually and we cannot promise that you will all be together.
The deadline to sign up for both vendors and volunteers is September 10 at 5 p.m. or until all spots are filled. A special thanks to our vendors, volunteers and our Stand Down planning committee for helping make this event successful including:
Attention Media: For photos of last year's event, please feel free to use any images from this this DropBox link and credit Kent County Veterans Services.
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