Support Event Helps 490 Veterans

The third annual Santa Barbara County Veterans Stand Down on 10/18 served 490 veterans, 117 of whom were homeless and 30 of whom were women, according to Supervisor Steve Lavagnino, who started the event in the area in 2012. Lavagnino thanked the 500 volunteers who helped provide 500 breakfasts, 700 lunches, 2,000 bottles of water, 1,500 packaged snacks, 113 haircuts, 391 bus tokens, 52 flu shots, and 108 PTSD counseling sessions. Also offered were medical and dental exams and legal advice. Nearly 50 veterans’ pets also benefited from microchipping and rabies vaccines.