At-risk veterans in the community will have access to help and support when the Whidbey Veterans Resource Center hosts the fifth annual Veterans Stand Down on August 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the lower level of the American Legion Post 141 off Highway 525.

The event brings together more than a dozen non-profit organizations, social service organizations, and government agencies to provide a range of vital services with the goal to connect, educate, and serve veterans, their families, and the community.

“It’s basically just a big resource fair for veterans, homeless veterans and their dependents,” said April Pomeroy, program coordinator of the center.

Vets will have access to Veterans Administration enrollment and benefits counselors, employment and financial support, VA mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury counseling, the American Red Cross, Island County Veterans Services, VetCorps Representative, Everett Veterans Center, the American Legion Representatives, and much more.

“Skagit Community College is coming to talk about G.I. Bills furthering veterans’ education,” Pomeroy said. “We’ll have a clothing store for homeless veterans as well, where everything is 100 percent off. There’s back-to-school clothes for kids, jeans, flannels, and some camping gear. There will also be a family area for adults to drop their children off so they can come and speak to some of the booths privately.”

Also included in the event will be live music, burgers, soda, and prizes. Vets can also get haircuts.

The Stand Down allows organizers to offer more in-depth assistance and provide a better opportunity to solve issues on a one-on-one basis.

Dean Fosdick is the veterans center’s veterans service officer.

“(My) job is to connect veterans and family members to benefits that they’re entitled to,” Fosdick said. “I’ll file claims, and if I don’t know the answer, I can point them in the right direction.”

The Veteran Resource Center is a non-profit group.

Dana Sawyers, a member of the Whidbey Veterans Resource Center advisory board and the Island County Veterans Services coordinator, said that the vision and desire of the VRC is to “grow so that it can be a hub for information and referral.”

Attending veterans will need to bring either a DD214 Discharge, VA card, or Retired Military ID.