ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota homeless and underserved veterans can get free access to all kinds of free services at a Fort Snelling event.

The nonprofit charity Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans holds the second day of its Metro Area Veterans' StandDown on Wednesday at Fort Snelling's Boy Scout Base Camp. Various agencies and organizations are on hand to provide a medical clinic, hot meals, clothes, benefit information, hygiene kits, legal advice, housing and employment assistance, mental health resources, haircuts and more.

The first Veterans StandDown event was held in San Diego in the summer of 1988, and it's since expanded to more than 100 locations across the country each year. Minnesota's 2012 event drew nearly 900 veterans seeking services from 65 agencies represented at the event.

Shuttles are available to the event from the Fort Snelling Light Rail station.