Causes: Emergency Assistance, Food, Food Banks & Pantries, Homeless & Housing, Homeless Centers, Human Service Organizations, Human Services

Mission: Allen W. Erickson founded Northwest Montana Veterans? Stand Down. Literally, "stand down" is a military term used to define a period when combat troops were allowed to ?STAND DOWN? from the rigors of constant alert status and the hardships of battle. We seek to give back to our veterans by providing a ?helping hand up? to begin the personal process of regaining self-esteem, hope, and the ability to re-enter the society to which they gave loyally and wholeheartedly, and from which many have withdrawn.

Results: 2019, we received a total of 224,218 pounds of nutritional food for our veterans and their immediate families. Our local community gave 199,602 pounds of food. A total of 2,134 veteran households, representing 3,891 individuals, received 155,721 pounds of food.

Direct beneficiaries per year: 2,134 veteran households, representing 3,891 individuals, received 155,721 pounds of food

Geographic areas served: Northwest Montana

Programs: The North West Montana Veterans Stand Down & Food Pantry is dedicated to extending a helping hand up to homeless, low-income and at-risk veterans and their families. These heroes have sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution and people of the United States of America. Now we must uphold them in their time of need. We administer a multi-faceted program designed to accommodate each client’s unique circumstances. Our mission is to offer wraparound services to our qualifying veterans through the many aspects of our organization which include:
•Raising community awareness to and advocating for the unmet needs of veterans.
•Nourishing hungry veterans and their families with nutritional food boxes.
•Equipping homeless and newly housed veteran households with clothing and furnishings. We also offer a “one to wear and one to wash” clothing allotment 2 times a year to qualifying veterans.
•Outreaching as many veterans as possible through our annual Stand Downs.
•Helping clients obtain Veterans Affair benefits and medical system enrollment. Veterans advocate is available to help with filing claims and enrollment in VA benefits.
•Providing veteran to veteran peer counseling and referrals to homeless shelters, housing, jobs, VA medical clinics, mental health specialists and other community resources.
•Building self-esteem by extending a helping hand up NOT a hand out; we provide a warm welcome, haircuts monthly, access to internet, access to laundry & shower facilities and hot coffee.
•Our Thrift Store “Veterans Clothing & More Store” is geared to supporting our community by offering good quality clothing and furniture at low prices.
•The Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Loan Program offered by Northwest Montana Veterans Stand Down and Food Pantry serves to provide low-income, at-risk individuals with medical equipment free of charge.
•New Camp Ponderosa in Swan Lake (Bigfork) a Veteran and Community Camp Retreat and Learning center is under development. Providing the opportunity to get away and reconnect by attending retreats and offering skills and relaxation.