Vendors sought for second annual Duplin Veterans Stand Down that connects veterans with resources

Sponsors are being sought for the second annual Duplin County Veterans Stand Down that will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, July 13, at the Campbell Center, 513 Southeast Railroad St., Wallace.

The program is for all veterans in Duplin, Wayne, Sampson Lenoir, Onslow and Pender counties.

The event is a positive experience which includes food, giveaways, vocational training, benefit updates, health and dental screenings, employment and housing opportunities, said Dr. Deniece Cole of Spiritual Destiny International Ministries, one of the sponsoring groups.

It is dedicated to providing services to men and women who have served in any branch of the military, regardless of their status. However, veterans should bring their DD 214 form, she added.

This event is in honor of veterans’ commitment to serve and protect the country, and sponsors way of saying “thank you” in their time of need, Cole said.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn about new benefits and services that are available to them and will be able to complete applications on the spot.

“We connect people to resources, not resources to people,” Cole said.

Last year’s inaugural event attracted 50 vendors from across the state bringing many service providers, community supporters, housing and employment specialists together in one place to provide the most comprehensive learning atmosphere possible, she added.

Cole said 25 vendors had registered as of June 21.

June 27 is the last day to register as a vendor so spaces and locations can be planned in the venue.

“If you would like to participate as a vendor, sponsor, or volunteer, please email or mail the corresponding form to us ASAP,” Cole said.

There is no fee for vendor participation.

To sign up as a vendor, visit https://forms.gle/n7vqnttAaZJD9DNQ8.

Vendors also may register at SpiritualDestinyIntl.org by clicking on mobile ministry events. The flier and registration form will pop up. Just fill it in and submit it, Cole said.

“There is no fee for vendors registrations,” Cole added. “We do have a donation button for those willing to donate to help our ongoing campaign to assist our homeless veterans and civilians.”

Cole said she would like to see more health, mental health and housing personnel sign up as vendors.

“Contrary to popular belief, there is an income limit on some of the services that veterans can receive from the military,” she said. “So all of the Social Service agencies that can help — housing, food distribution like the food pantries — so I would like to see those people who can help with stability.

“There is more to getting someone into a home than to just say we have gotten them off the streets. They have to have mental health counseling, re-acclimate with society. They have to know where the resources are to help them. So all of the resources that will help them get into a stable environment, those are the vendors that we want to see.”

Relationships have been developed with vendors over the years, she added.

“So those resources have been vetted, and we know that when we send our veterans to those resources that they can do what they say they can do,” Cole explained. “And we don’t have our veterans running everywhere. You may need housing so why I am going to send you to a clothing resource?”

Sponsors are Duplin Christian Outreach Ministries; NCWorks Career Center; Duplin County; Spiritual Destiny International Ministries; Smithfield Foods; Duplin County Veterans Services; Pender County Veterans Services; Veterans Services of the Carolinas; Duplin County Health Department; and Jacksonville Veteran Services.

Cole has been a part of the Stand Down program for several years.

They pop up in different communities to help homeless veterans, she said.

“They provide medical, health care services, hygiene — different things, resources that are needed to bring them from a state of homelessness back to stability or to help to prevent homelessness and help to deal with some mental health issues as well to start filing claims or claim reviews,” she explained.

“We were always going to different counties, but Duplin County never did a Stand Down. I started thinking, what if we could bring Duplin County because it is the center of those counties we serve. We are right in the middle.”

Cole received a call last year following a Stand Down in Onslow County and was asked about doing one in Duplin County.

Smithfield Foods furnished the funding for the food.

“That is when we decided with the food part taken care of, we can make this happen,” Cole said. “So four of us, Duplin Outreach Christian Ministries, Spiritual Destiny International Ministries, Smithfield Food and NCWorks Veterans Division, we came together, we planned it and we made it happen.”

It was needed, she added, and more than 200 people attended. More than 250 hygiene bags were distributed. Also distributed were sleeping bags, clothing, supplies, dish washing detergent, laundry supplies.

The list included toothbrushes, dental kits, blankets, underwear and sock, things that are overlooked most of the time, Cole added.

There was even a barber on site that did free haircuts.

Free blood pressure and health screenings were provided, too.

“There was just a plethora of resources,” Cole said. “There was a housing specialist on site. She took applications right there. The Department of Veterans Affairs van was there. They (veterans) could go in and fill out their claim, or get an update.”

All veterans are welcome, she said.

A meal will be provided to everyone who attends. The food is being provided by Duplin Christian Outreach Ministries, Cole added.

NC Counts has donated event supplies such as toiletries. It and Smithfield Foods also have donated some sleeping bags, Cole said.

Cole also thanked DAV Chapter 98 and the Duplin County Veteran Services office for their help.

Air Force retiree and Bronze Star recipient Betsy Branch of Warsaw will speak at the event.

Also speaking will be retired Army Major William Jeffers, senior ROTC instructor at Wallace-Rose Hill High School; Bernard Woods of Rose Hill, a disabled Marine; and Lena Mae Bethea of Rose Hill, Montford Point Marine widow.

Duplin County Commissioner Jesse Dowe will be the master of ceremonies.

“One thing that we want the public to know, if you are a veteran, please come by,” Cole said. “This is your day. Let us cater to you for this one day.

“We will make sure you get food. We will make sure you get hygiene items, make sure you get a sleeping bag if that is what you need. We have clothing items there. We will have anything you need. We will not turn you away. We are not concerned about your status.”

For more information, call Cole at 919-738-2006 or Zachary Branch at 919-799-0031.