In October, the City of Santa Maria offered the VETERANS’ STAND DOWN, a program sponsored by the Dept. of Veteran Affairs, where local homeless Veterans were invited to come to the Santa Maria Fairgrounds for services, such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings, VA and SS benefits counseling, support services and referrals. Stand Downs are collaborative events, coordinated between local VAs, government agencies, and community agencies.

Knowing that women also serve, and become Veterans, and may even be part of the Homeless Veterans groups, our branch wanted to express our support for all Veterans who attend this event. Two of our members, Martha and Cathy, volunteered, for the second year, to do mending and repairing of clothes for the Vets. Cathy also donated several scarves (neck/head) that she knit, as well as some dolls for the children of the Veterans.

We appreciate the contribution Martha and Cathy made, representing AAUW Santa Maria, in supporting and acknowledging the service of our hero Veterans.