Veterans Helping Veterans
Since 1998
Helping Veterans get Boots on the Ground and Mission ready for Life
Contact the St. Cloud StandDown, especially in time of need, so we can assist you.
Services
Services for Veterans
StandDown assists male and female Veterans in Minnesota and the surrounding area with resources and merchandise free of charge. StandDown provides food, clothing, accessories, footwear, job connections, and housing information and resources for Veterans in need, at risk, or homeless.
Our motto is VETERANS HELPING VETERANS. Especially in a time of need, contact us and let us see what we can do to assist you.
The St. Cloud StandDown location consists of multiple operations, all providing complementary resources and services to our beloved Veterans.
StandDown Warehouse
We have the only Veteran-only clothing warehouse in the 5-state area. When you come to St. Cloud StandDown, we’ll give you a duffel bag with the basics in it. But, you can also look through racks and racks of clothing for any specifics you need. We carry men’s and women’s clothing, shoes, boots, and many accessories.
Not ready for winter? Stop in to get a winter coat, hats, gloves, and thick socks. We are here to make sure you’re taken care of.
Since 2018, we’ve given away nearly 2,000 pairs of shoes. We have an amazing source of New Balance shoes, as well as military surplus boots in GSA sizes 4-16, along with quality work boots.
Lady Veterans Boutique
Introduced in the fall of 2020, we are so excited to offer a new elite service at the St Cloud StandDown facility.
The silence of women Veterans has become a contributor to the increase in homelessness and suicide rates in the community. The lack of their participation has delayed the development of programs that adequately address the needs of lady Veterans.
To fill that gap and serve the needs of all of our Veterans the Lady Veterans Boutique was designed to empower, encourage, and mentor all Lady Veterans, whether or not they are in need, at risk, or homeless. Lady Veterans deserve to be recognized and validated, that they served, and they earned it on their own, and they are VETERANS!
The Lady Veterans Boutique is open Monday to Thursday from 10 AM-2 PM.
If there is a need outside these hours please email or call us to set up an appointment time.
Lady Veterans Boutique Welcome
Lady Veterans Boutique Clothing
St. Cloud Stand Down Lady Veterans Boutique Clothing
St. Cloud Stand Down Lady Veterans Boutique
St. Cloud Stand Down Lady Veterans Boutique
St. Cloud StandDown Lady Veterans Boutique Clothing
St. Cloud StandDown Lady Veterans Boutique Clothing
St. Cloud StandDown Lady Veterans Boutique Shoes
handmade scarf/hat sets
vet of year
Nail Salon
The boutique’s nail salon opened in November 2020, to provide free nail care to Veterans.
We are blessed to have a volunteer, Loan, who offers manicures and , basic nail care appointments, on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, from 10 AM – 2 PM.
We have the only salon explicitly for Veterans in the five-state area. Also, when you are at the nail salon, stop into the warehouse for some gear or the boutique to pick out a new outfit.
Hair Services
Lady Veterans Boutique can now offer women-only basic hair cuts and styles with a licensed volunteer in a salon in the community. We would like to offer this service in other counties in MN and add other services and/or make-overs for Veterans in the future. Contact the boutique if you would like to volunteer or discuss options to serve our lady Veteran hair care needs.
However, the Boutique does have a curling iron, hair dryer, and styling aids on hand to make your hair look great after your hot shower.
State of Minnesota Non-profit Organization
501(c)(3) Inc., since 1998, Federal Tax Number:50-0010928
Mission Statement
To Empower, Encourage, Mentor, and provide services to all Lady Veterans; whether or not they are in need, at risk, or homeless.
Hours of Operation: Mon-Thurs, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Nail Salon open 1st & 3rd Wednesday of the Month (by appt.)
Clifford Beck Veterans Resource Center
The VA can offer a lot of mental and health care services. We are here to fill the other gaps you need to get your boots on the ground and be ready for life outside the military.
In-Person Lunch
We’re not a soup kitchen. But if you stop in to meet us, you’ll leave with a warm meal in your belly. We serve dozens of meals each week to veterans just like you. No explanation needed, no judgement.
Food Boxes/Food Pantry
For the elderly, infirm, homebound, or for veterans in need, we do provide food boxes. We deliver hundreds of food boxes every year. If you are a veteran in need or know someone who is in need, please get in touch so we can help.
Music Wellness Program:
Our Guitar Heroes program offers a unique wellness experience to all veterans, by providing camaraderie through group jam sessions. We have volunteers that teach veterans of all skill levels, the power of music. It is no secret that music throughout the years have found positive effects and healing abilities for soldiers and veterans with invisible wounds such as PTSD and TBI. We have taken that and made it our mission to offer a program for veterans with those invisible wounds, restoring strength through music.
VET-NET Resource Area
Need to utilize a computer to do some job searching, write a resume, find a resource, or send an email? The StandDown Clifford Beck Veteran Resource Center now has a computer with a printer/copier to assist Veterans with their computer needs.
Personal Hygiene
We know it can be hard to find work or feel your best. If you are in need of a hot shower, bathrooms, or personal hygiene products we have the facilities available here for you to use. Call ahead or stop in and we’ll set you up with what you need | shampoo, conditioner, soap, body wash, toothpaste, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, lotion, and more.
Housing Assistance
Our team of volunteers can provide you with the assistance you need to navigate the veteran and government programs available. Whether you’re sleeping on the street, in a car, on a friend’s couch, or anywhere else, we can help you get back on your feet.
Mostly we help single veterans, but we can also assist single parents and families find the resources they need to get off the street and feel safe again.
Employment Assistance
We can act as a liaison and help you connect with the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MAC-V), the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), MinnesotaWorks.Net or CareerForce, and other businesses that are hiring.
Legal & Tax Assistance
We can help you find legal or tax assistance, employment, help with social security or family readiness.
VA Navigation Assistance
We can advise you on the services available at the VA that you may not have had access to or knowledge of yet.
Non-Profit Meeting Space
In need of a place to host your meetings. The Resource Center can accommodate meeting space for non-profit organizations, for 20-30 personnel. Submit your request for meeting space well in advance, in order to get confirmed on the schedule.
Private space has been created so Veterans or Surviving Spouses can meet with a Veteran Service Officer to file or discuss service-connected disability claims or other benefits. We can assist you with Zoom Meetings or setting up an appointment to meet with your CVSO, VBA, MDVA or other organizations to discuss Veteran benefits and programs, this especially helps fill the gap during these COVID restrictions.
Gentlemen’s Quarters Barbershop
We partner with local hair professionals to get our Veterans the proper hair care they need to stay healthy and be career-ready.
Gentleman’s Quarters is a private business owned by John Parry and is located at the St. Cloud StandDown facility.
On the first Thursday of every month, it is open exclusively for Veterans, free of charge, from 9 AM – 1 PM.
It is open to the public, by appointment, and for a fee, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 8:30 AM – 5 PM.
Other Services
Can’t qualify for dental programs? There may be additional resources for dental assistance in the future.
Check back for updates on the Financial Series we’d like to offer FREE for Veterans and their families.
Like to relax and ease some stress….well get ready too enjoy new therapy technique services we are looking at offering like Healing Touch or Reiki or ever have a magnetic rollout? Stay tuned for classes coming up to talk out what this means.
If you know of services in need, drop us a note, so we can look into it.
Premier Community Partners
St. Cloud StandDown, Inc. can’t provide these resources without the gracious help from our community partners through generous donations. We can’t THANK YOU enough. Making a difference, one Veteran at a time.
Save the Date for the next St. Cloud StandDown Expo & Job Fair on October 28, 2021 at the River’s Edge Convention Center from 9am to 2pm, with social distancing being planned. If you are a vendor or business who is interested in a booth space please contact the St. Cloud StandDown President, Bob Behrens for details.
We’d love to come talk with your organization about the services we offer Veterans. Contact us anytime to set up a time that works best for you.