Some attending Friday’s Stand Down event arrived with items in mind they hoped to pick up — winter coats, boots, pet supplies, sleeping bags — while others were there to explore the wide range of free resources available to them.

Clark County’s annual one-day Stand Down offers a one-stop shop for local veterans and their families. This year, about 60 vendors assembled at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Sifton. They offered a variety of resources and services, including housing assistance, help filing for veterans benefits, haircuts, dental work, job leads, clothing and lunch.

But perhaps the most important thing the event offered is a sense of belonging, said Nick Herber, 76. The Vietnam War-era veteran has attended the event since 2012.

“That’s the worst feeling in the world, to b

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