The Volunteers of America Veterans Service Center in Mather is hosting a three-day event this week offering dental care, vision services and some help from the California DMV. The Fall 2026 Sacramento Stand Down runs at 10618 Schirra Avenue, with dental care available strictly first-come, first-served and no appointments accepted.
According to the event organizer, Sacramento Stand Down, the event is scheduled for Sept. 24-26, 2026, with hours set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The Friday-through-Sunday schedule reported by Fox 40 refers to the 2024 event, not 2026. KCRA's 2026 report also lists Thursday through Saturday, though its Saturday hours differ from the organizer's.
KCRA reports the 2026 event kicked off Thursday as an annual three-day community initiative connecting military veterans experiencing homelessness, or at risk of it, with support services. The station reports the Stand Down has previously served more than 500 veterans in that situation and that organizers anticipate an even greater response this year.
Dental and Vision Care, No Appointment Necessary
Dental services are open all three days on a first-come, first-served basis, per the organizer's posted schedule. Vision services will also be available, with registration offered each day. This year, per the organizer, the California DMV has confirmed it will be on-site to provide some services.
The Fox 40 report on the 2024 event describes a broader mix of offerings, including help with legal issues, food, dental, medical and vision services, all provided at no cost. KCRA's reporting adds that services at the event have included VA benefits assistance, employment services, civilian clothing, haircuts, hygiene services and pet care.
Veterans Traveling From Across Northern California
Ana Bankert told KCRA that veterans are coming not just from the greater Sacramento area but from around Northern California to attend. The station also reports that Max Baumgartner said veterans who receive services at the Stand Down often succeed and return later to help other veterans themselves.
AARP is also taking part this year, staffing a booth with resources for veterans and military families. Per AARP's event listing, the organization plans to offer information on family caregiving, fraud and scam prevention, transitioning from service to civilian employment, and accessing earned VA benefits.
Part of a Longer-Running Local Effort
The Sacramento Stand Down has been described as one of the largest homeless-veteran outreach projects in the region, organized for several years running, according to Fox 40. Fox 40 reported that the 2023 event drew nearly 300 attendees. The local program has also included a Spring 2026 mini Stand Down held April 1, according to the organizer's own event updates, suggesting the fall gathering is one of multiple touchpoints the group offers veterans throughout the year.
Similar Stand Down events are held elsewhere in California and beyond, though eligibility rules and offerings vary. Kern County's 2026 Veteran's Stand Down, for instance, is set for Oct. 8 at Stramler Park in Bakersfield, running from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to the Community Action Partnership of Kern. For now, the focus in Mather remains on the veterans lining up this week for dental chairs, vision screenings and a DMV table, with organizers framing the event as a hand up rather than a handout.
