;MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT/EASTERN RECRUITING REGION PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- -- Depot personnel, local veterans groups and the Department of Veterans Affairs joined forces to help out those less fortunate in the fourth annual Veterans Affairs Stand Down Against Homelessness in Charleston Oct. 17-18.
The stand down provides a time for community homeless to rest and alleviate some of the hardships of living on the streets.
Food and other donations were provided by the Depot commissary and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8760. Recruits from Special Training Company and Hotel Company also lent a hand to help pack the items into approximately 500 bags.
Donated items included nonperishable snack foods such as canned fruit, granola bars and crackers, as well as hygiene items such as shampoo, shaving cream, soap and toothbrushes.
Peter Holt, the Depot's safety supervisor, helped organize and transport the items to Charleston. Holt said he helps out because of the kinship felt between veterans, regardless of service.
"The people we're providing this for are former military veterans," said Holt. "For whatever reason, they've fallen through the cracks."
After packaging the goods, Holt transported them to the stand down Oct. 17, where they were distributed to homeless veterans.
The Depot has helped out in the past, said one of the events coordinators.
"The Marine Corps Recruit Depot has been among our most substantial supporters in the past," said John Painter, Senior Staff Chaplain at the Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center. "Last year they produced over 300 snack bags for this event."
The packages provided by the Depot last year helped part of the 900 homeless veterans who registered at the stand down.
Giving food isn't the only service the stand down helped provide. Last year, the stand down provided 195 medical screenings, 55 dental screenings, 254 health screenings and 184 haircuts.
Holts desire to help isn't just a one-time event.
In addition to organizing past donations, he wants to dedicate is full time to helping others in the future.
"When I finally retire, I'll probably do this full-time," he said. "This is the fun part of the job, being able to help somebody."