DIXON, CA (MPG) - After a four-year hiatus, the 18th North Bay Operation Stand Down will be back on Wednesday, October 12, at the Dixon May Fair.

It is the 18th event that includes local community, County, and Veterans Administrations benefits, services, and resources for returning Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom Veterans and homeless veterans who served their country honorably.

One of the veterans who found a way to get from Sacramento to Dixon had the typical medical and dental issues caused by being homeless and having an alcohol addiction. But, after a couple more years of coming and getting help, he eventually got more involved, received counseling, got sober, and got a job.

"We got him off the streets and because of Stand Down, he made [the right] choices," said Lynn Jewell, the Secretary/Treasurer and Volunteer/Service Provider Coordinator for North Bay Stand Down, an all-volunteer organization.

"I'm so proud of him," she said. "He moved to Arkansas to be closer to family and we stay in contact."

He is one of the organization's successes stories-- and the 200 to 250 volunteers like Lynn and Jeff work to make many more.

Jeff started in the all-volunteer organization in 2002 and Lynn came on board in 2005. Jeff is an Air Force veteran who ended up at Travis where he met Lynn after duty in Wisconsin and Japan. He worked in the field with combat so when he attended a Stand Down in Sacramento more than 20 years ago, he was greatly moved. He came back determined to organize one locally. Jeff is now the Director.

"We had one by the second year and it's been a labor love ever since," said Lynn. "When the organization did the 3-day events, it took 700 to 800 volunteers and was a really big undertaking." But even the one-day event attracts veterans from Napa, Solano, Yolo, and Sonoma counties.

"We have gotten folks off the streets but it's a choice and it's a good choice but it's still a choice," Lynn emphasized. "We do not judge. We're going to do the best we can for as many people as we can and hope that they give back in some way. There are a lot of homeless programs and they've been successful with stabilizing transitional housing and helping with the workforce but there are less out there now than when we started. When veterans are homeless and come to the Stand Down, we help them; that's when we've done our job."

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs statistics, Veterans comprise about 10 percent of the homeless population of the United States and the community. The adversities of homelessness include lack of safe shelter, unemployment, physical and emotional disabilities, substance abuse and hopelessness. For many Veterans, these adversities create a self-generating cycle, which leads to complete isolation from mainstream American society. This year, transportation to the fairgrounds can be provided in Solano County.

The dental and the medical are the biggest draws for the Veterans plus the court system. There are usually court representatives from Solano, but not yet confirmed, to help with minor infractions like vagrancy, traffic, or misdemeanors. There is also job information, haircuts, clothing and shoes, and spiritual services to name a few.

"The process for Veterans to register is simple and they have to fax their DD214," said Lynn.

As in past years, the success of this event depends largely on the willingness of those in the community to serve as volunteers or donate cash to the cause.

"Volunteers need to submit a basic application, then they go to the next step and determine where they want to work such as in clothing or in the kitchen," she said. Go to www.nbstanddown.org or call the Solano County Veterans Service Office at (707) 784-6590 or the Director at (707) 365-8384.