Las Vegas Goodwill® Takes Store on the Road to Help Homeless Vets

Goodwill mobile store truck in front of Las Vegas Senior CenterGoodwill of Southern Nevada took its signature mobile store concept to the 2012 Las Vegas Veterans Stand Down, an event designed to give a “hand up” to homeless veterans, providing them food, clothing, services and referrals.

The store, set up on March 21-22 in the East Las Vegas Senior Community Center, was unique in that veterans were not charged for items, but  received “Stand Down Bucks” based on their particular needs.

All veterans who registered at the event received a general “buck.” And veterans who visited the Goodwill’s Career Connections table got a special “buck” to obtain career clothing at the store.

The Goodwill® mobile store helped 514 veterans, and nearly 150 visited the Goodwill’s Career Connections table for employment services information. Two veterans were hired on the spot to work as Goodwill attended donation center ambassadors!

“Goodwill of Southern Nevada was extremely proud to be a part of the Las Vegas Veterans Stand Down for the fifth year in a row,” said President and CEO Steve Chartrand. More than 30 Goodwill team members volunteered during the  event.

The Goodwill’s participation was able to expand this year, thanks to a grant from the Caesars Foundation.

Chartrand said, “We truly appreciate the Caesars Foundation’s commitment to fund innovation, and are pleased that their support allows us to participate in event like the Stand Down, which provides much-needed resources to our Southern Nevada community.”

Watch a video interview, and view photos from the event on the Goodwill’s Facebook page and in the Las Vegas Review Journal.