Operation Stand Down – Serving Those Who Served Us
Operation Stand Down is a powerful, multi-day, community-driven initiative dedicated to helping homeless and at-risk veterans across the Tampa Bay region regain stability, dignity, and hope. Held each spring in Shady Hills, Florida, this event is more than a gathering—it is a lifeline.
The next Operation Stand Down will take place April 24–25, 2026. For two full days, veterans receive free medical and dental care (including extractions and dentures), mental health counseling, substance use recovery support, Veterans Court for Pasco County offenses, legal assistance, benefits navigation, employment resources, housing connections, showers, meals, clothing, haircuts, and essential supplies.
For many veterans, this is the first time in years that someone looks them in the eye and says, “You matter.”
But Stand Down is not just a weekend event. It is the gateway to year-round support through our Veterans Support Center, where we provide ongoing peer support, case management, housing stabilization, employment coaching, VA benefits assistance, and emergency financial relief. Veterans who first walk through our gates at Stand Down continue to receive follow-up care, encouragement, and accountability throughout the year.
Last year alone, we served more than 500 veterans, connecting them to life-changing services. Many secured stable housing. Others received long-overdue dental care that restored their confidence and employability. Dozens addressed legal barriers through Veterans Court, regaining their driver’s licenses and the ability to work. Veterans struggling with PTSD, addiction, and depression found peer support and renewed purpose.
One veteran came to us living in the woods, battling addiction and facing legal issues. Through housing assistance, recovery support, benefits advocacy, and steady mentorship, he now owns his own HVAC company and hires other veterans. Another elderly veteran on the brink of losing his home received financial assistance, case management, and end-of-life medical coordination—allowing him to age with dignity instead of facing homelessness.
These stories are not exceptions. They are what happens when a community chooses to stand in the gap.
The need continues to grow. We are seeing an increasing number of younger veterans struggling to transition from military service into civilian life. Many face unemployment, untreated trauma, loneliness, and a loss of identity and purpose. At the same time, aging veterans are fighting to remain in their homes as fixed incomes fail to keep up with rising costs of living and healthcare.
To meet this growing demand, we must raise $100,000 to ensure every veteran who reaches out receives the support they need to stabilize housing, secure employment, increase VA benefits, access medical and mental health services, and maintain long-term independence.
Your support through Benevity directly fuels this mission. It provides:
Housing stabilization and emergency assistance
Mental health and recovery support
VA benefits advocacy
Medical and dental care
Employment training and job placement
Transportation assistance
End-of-life housing and care coordination for elderly veterans
When you give, you are not funding an event. You are funding restored dignity. You are funding second chances. You are funding hope.
Operation Stand Down is proof that when a community comes together, veterans do not have to fight their battles alone.
Stand with us. Stand for them.
To learn more, visit: www.ocnstanddown.org
