U.S. VETS hosts annual holiday party for homeless veterans

For one night, about 200 homeless veterans didn't have to worry about finding a job or getting their lives back together. They could just enjoy the holiday spirit with food and friends.

A Dec. 22 event at Sunset Station, 1301 W. Sunset Road, catered to clients of U.S. VETS, which provides counseling, housing and support for homeless veterans. The Las Vegas branch of the national organization shelters up to 260 homeless veterans at two locations.

The annual holiday extravaganza is put on to boost morale.

Shalimar Cabrera, site director for U.S. VETS, said the event has been going on for about 10 years.

"It's different than a soup line," Cabrera said. "We have volunteers serving meals to the veterans."

Every year, the party gets bigger as the number of homeless veterans U.S. VETS provides services for grows .

"This is the first year Sunset Station reached out to us about hosting the event," Cabrera said. "We would be nothing without our sponsors."

Sunset Station provided the room, food, entertainment and staffing for the event at no cost.

Kenneth Fields, 46, had been in the program for about a week when he came to the holiday party.

"I was in the program before, but I just returned to it," Fields said.

Since leaving the U.S. Army in 1983, Fields has had various jobs from pastry chef to working for hotels. He worked at the MGM Grand from 2004 until February 2008, when he was laid off.

Initially, he thought he could live off winnings from gambling by playing the occasional game of blackjack or poker.

"I thought it would be a good substitute," Fields said.

Even though he was living on the streets, he tried to make it work for about a year and a half.

In 2009, he found out about U.S. VETS after he went to a Veterans Affairs clinic for a medical check up.

At first, Fields was hesitant about joining the program because he was raised to never ask for help. But his resistance lifted as he was determined to enter the center's back-to-work program.

The program provided Fields with a sponsor to help keep him accountable for his gambling and alcohol addictions.

A year and a half later, when Fields' sponsor died, he decided to return to gambling. He was still unemployed.

"I thought this time would be different," Fields said.

While he was on the streets, Fields met other homeless veterans and would refer them back to U.S. VETS.

"It surprised me how many homeless veterans there are," Fields said. "I think some don't know where to find help while others don't know how to ask for help."

Eventually, Fields made his way back to the program. He said he is ready to recommit to sobriety.

Fields joined about 200 of his fellow veterans from U.S. VETS that evening.

"Some of them couldn't make it, but all were invited," Cabrera said.

In addition to the meal, the veterans received presents from a wish list that the center compiled .

Fields came back to the program too late to get on the wish list.

"But I am thankful for anything I get," he said.

For Fields, the evening wasn't just about food or presents but getting back to the meaning of the holidays, which he believes is to be with family.

"A lot of us don't have family," Fields said. "This is my family. These are my brothers."

For more information on U.S. VETS, call 366-0456.

Contact Henderson/Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 387-5201.