Garamendi working on Stand Down funds
By Melissa Murphy/ MMurphy@TheReporter.com
The federal government’s doors still remain closed, but a local representative is still hard at work making sure one local event happens as planned.One week ago, organizers of the North Bay Stand Down were notified by e-mail that an already approved grant from the Department of Labor worth $10,000 could not be delivered.
However, according to an e-mail from his office, Congressman John Garamendi, D-Solano, is now working to alleviate the stand down’s financial bump in the road.
“Garamendi is working with the stand down to ensure interim funding is available for them to continue as planned,” the congressman’s representative wrote. “One way or another, they will have the money they need.”
The North Bay Stand Down, in its 12th year, reaches out to some 250-300 veterans in need of help, especially those who are homeless or at-risk in local communities to provide them services such as veterans benefits, dental care and something as simple as a haircut.
This is good news to Lynn Jewell, secretary/treasurer of North Bay Operation Hand Up.
“At least we won’t have to worry about the short term,” she said and added that the $10,000 is used to pay for food and clothing for the veterans staying at the Dixon May Fair grounds for the three day event.
She said Garamendi is looking for a loan through a credit union, one that will be paid back when the organization receives that grant.
For more information or to make a donation for the North Bay Stand Down, visit www.nbstanddown.org.
Follow Staff Writer Melissa Murphy at Twitter.com/ReporterMMurphy.