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Caring citizens are invited to join in giving a “hand up” to our less fortunate men and women who have served honorably in military service. More than 1,000 volunteers with various sills and abilities are needed to support the operation of a “tent city” at the Alameda County Fairgrounds from Thursday, Sept. 13 through noon, Sunday, Sept. 16. All volunteers must register by Aug, 31 at www.eastbaystanddown.org/volreg/volunteer.php. Financial assistance is also greatly needed to support this huge endeavor and make a difference in the lives of so many Veterans who gave so much for themselves and for our Country. Checks may be sent to Diablo Valley Veterans Foundation EBSD, P.O. Box 2133, Danville, CA 94526.

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16 Comments

  1. The “East Bay Stand Down” is a fantastic and caring way to help support our Veterans. Thank you to the leadership at the Fairgrounds for again being an important asset in our community!

  2. Recent revelations about unethical and illegal behavior at charitable organizations have made it harder to trust these calls for help.

    Will this turn out to be another organization with 3 “full-time volunteers” and 5 paid directors, each putting in 2 hours per month and pulling in six-figure salaries, that spends 98% of the donations it collects on “expenses related to personnel” and 2% on the service it claims to provide?

    Maybe these solicitations should include attachments with auditor-certified financial reports filed by the organization since foundation.

    Sad and frustrated,

    Mike

  4. Mike (Sad & Frustrated)

    This is not the time to grandstand about unethical or illegal behavior of charitable organizations. Don’t worry about trusting these calls for help. Just use your energy to help the Vets!

  5. We sent signup sheets around in our classes at 5 different congregations for our church in Pleasanton / Dublin Sunday. We were needing about 40 volunteers to prepare and serve a meal on one of the days. We ended up with about 90, so support for the military seems to be alive and well. Now we need to find other things to do for half of our volunteers.

  6. Like most events coordinated by veteran organizations, there are no paid staff members, all are volunteers. Veterans feel that it is their duty to give back to those less fortunate, especially other veterans. All monies collected go directly to support helping our homeless veterans. Meals, medical, legal help and many other services are provided by volunteers that take no pay and are just thankful that they are in a position to help.
    I have participated in several Stand Downs over the past several years and find that they are the most depressing but uplifting events that you can be a part of.

  7. Be advised that if you offer money to certain organizations, it will most likely NOT be used properly.

    I agree with Mike.

    Instead of money, offer a sweet prayer.

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