BELLAIRE — The Belmont County Veterans Service Office will host a Stand Down event to help veterans in need on Saturday.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., local veterans in need of assistance are invited to the office’s new location at 400 Imperial Plaza, formerly the site of the Belmont County Eastern and Northern Division Courts.

“We are doing this event to help our veterans in need and the homeless community,” said project leader Bobbie Jo Morales, president of the St. Clairsville VFW Auxiliary. “We will be giving away clothes for men, women and children, hygiene items, food, haircuts. It’s to help our veterans that really need help.”

Information about available services will also be handed out.

“There will be a doctor there also doing health checks for those that may need health checks,” Morales added. “Our veterans don’t just go fight wars. When they come home, they have to transition back. … We are going to be out, trying to help them transition, even those who have been home for awhile that may need the help.

“We’re just doing this one in Bellaire. There are different events that do pop up within other counties and other states,” she continued. “I’ve been trying to get this one in our area for a couple years now, but since COVID hit, haven’t been able to do it ’til now.”

She said she previously worked on such an event in Zanesville, Ohio.

“It was huge out that way in helping out the veterans and just people that needed help in that area, and I wanted to bring it this way,” she said. “We have veterans that are living in the street. They are too proud to admit they need the help. If they can get the help this way, we’re more than happy to help them, get them whatever help they need. If they’re living on the streets and just don’t have the funds to be able to get a new pair of pants or bedding for their bed or food at any particular time, we’re there to help them.”

Morales said these are common issues.

“I know several veterans that have issues with their health, and sometimes they can’t get to a doctor or a (Veterans Administration) clinic. We’re having an event that offers some of those type of services,” she said.

She said a large turnout is expected. Notice was sent to various American Legions and VFWs, as well as VA clinics.

“I think it’s going to be huge,” she said. “We will have a bunch of organizations there. I’ve had people contact me from Helping Heroes and the vet center over in Wheeling, along with the Veterans Services Commission that is helping me put this event on. … We will have Yorkville, Powhatan, Bellaire, St. Clairsville, hopefully Barnesville.”

Organizations from Guernsey County, Marietta, Ohio, and Weirton may also help.

Cindy Maupin, director at the Veterans Affairs office, said her organization was happy to help.

“We are going to have service officers here to do claims if anybody needs help, financial assistance,” Maupin said, adding that veterans will have to provide their information including a driver’s license, a utility bill showing they live in Belmont County, and DD 214 papers from the Defense Department detailing circumstances of their service and discharge.

“You can tell there’s more of a need right now with the unemployment going down, food stamps going down. People are needing more help now with the end of the coronavirus help,” Maupin said. “People are needing more food vouchers and utility assistance, rental assistance.”

Maupin added that Thanksgiving and Christmas vouchers will also be offered for the holidays. Veterans can obtain one voucher for $400 or two vouchers for $200 each. They must be used at the Bellaire Kroger store by Dec. 24. Recipients must qualify with income guidelines.

For more information, call the Veterans Service Office at 740-325-1042 or Morales at 614-315-4967 or email redtweety112@yahoo.com. Volunteers are welcome.