More than 50 organizations will gather to connect NH veterans and military families with services and support.
NASHUA, N.H. — Harbor Care announces the 22nd Annual NH Veteran Stand Down, taking place Friday, September 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Eversource Energy Park in Manchester. The free event will bring together more than 50 organizations to connect veterans and military families with services and support. Stand Down attendance also includes a free lunch for veterans.
Harbor Care also invites organizations and businesses across New Hampshire to participate as community partners and sponsors.
Organized by Harbor Care, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Presenting Sponsor Eversource, Stand Down brings veteran-serving organizations, government agencies, community and non-profit groups, and businesses together in one location, making it easier for veterans and their families to find the help they need.
“Stand Down works because so many organizations come together around one goal: making it easier for veterans to find the support they have earned,” said Henry Och, President and CEO of Harbor Care. “We invite organizations across New Hampshire to join us—whether by providing services at the event or helping make those services possible through sponsorship.”
Community partner organizations that provide benefits, resources, or other support to veterans are encouraged to participate. Services include employment assistance, medical and behavioral healthcare, housing support, VA benefits and claims assistance, food and clothing, legal and financial resources, and more.
The free outdoor event welcomes all former service members, veterans, and military families while continuing its longstanding commitment to veterans experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.
Businesses can also support the event through sponsorship. Eversource is serving as this year’s Presenting Sponsor, continuing its support for an event that depends on collaboration across the nonprofit, public, and private sectors. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available at several levels at www.harborcarenh.org/stand-down.
“Military veterans have selflessly sacrificed on behalf of us all and are invaluable members of our communities. They make up a significant part of Eversource’s workforce because the experience, dedication, and skills they bring to the job make our teams stronger—as they do for countless businesses and organizations across the state,” said Bob Coates, Eversource’s President of NH Electric Operations. “We’re thrilled to once again host Harbor Care’s Stand Down and welcome veterans to Energy Park to get the services and support they need—and have earned through their dedicated service—for their journey forward.”
The NH Veteran Stand Down is modeled after the military tradition of a “stand down,” when troops could pause from duty to rest, receive supplies, and connect with essential support before returning to their mission. Today, the event carries that tradition forward by creating a welcoming place where veterans can get answers, meet directly with providers, and connect with fellow service members.
With more than 81,000 veterans calling New Hampshire home, coordinated access to services remains important across the state. The September event will also highlight progress toward ending veteran homelessness in Manchester, an initiative announced by Mayor Jay Ruais at the 2024 NH Veteran Stand Down.
For more information, including details about sponsorships and partnerships, visit www.harborcarenh.org/stand-down or email standdown@harborcarenh.org.
22nd Annual NH Veteran Stand Down
Friday, September 18, 2026
10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Eversource Energy Park
780 N. Commercial Street, Manchester, NH
www.harborcarenh.org/stand-down
Harbor Care is dedicated to breaking the cycle of homelessness through housing, healthcare, and veteran services. As an innovative nonprofit organization, Harbor Care assists more than 5,000 adults, children, and families in New Hampshire each year, offering solutions to some of life’s most challenging issues. The organization provides a range of services for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including transitional and permanent housing; medical, dental, and mental healthcare; substance use treatment; HIV/AIDS support services; and veteran services. Learn more at www.harborcarenh.org.
