CBS – September 27, 2014 – By Hadas Kuznits

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Hundreds of homeless veterans took advantage of the services provided at this year’s “Stand Down” event Friday at the National Guard Armory in Cherry Hill.

The goal of Stand Down 2014 is to help homeless U.S. war veterans re-enter mainstream society.

“They come through and they get a medical screening here, they get access to social services here.” says Jim Maher, chairman of Stand Down in South Jersey. “We give them a meal, we give them clothing, a haircut if they want, they get eyeglasses.”

Maher says while they provide services to take care of the veterans’ physical needs…

“It’s really important that they get the medical aspect of what they do,” he says, “and the social services.”

Some of those medical and social services include mental health screenings, substance abuse counseling and legal services.

About 250 veterans were served at this year’s event.

Meanwhile, the VA estimates over 300,000 vets are homeless on any given night.

For more information on services or to volunteer log onto http://www.standdownofsouthjersey.com