According to the Veteran's Health Administration's 2017 report, Montana has one of the hightes per capita Veteran populations in the United States.
About 1 in 10 residents in Montana are veterans (98,386 individuals). In the Kalispell area alone, there are almost 6,000 veterans enrolled in VA Health Services.
Stigma surrounding "asking for help" in veteran communities is a large barrier to recieving much needed services. At Camp Ponderosa, we will normalize assistance through community and fellowship.
A safe, stable enviroment is a protective factor that can improve resiliency and is a social determinant of health. On site housing will keep our veterans fed and sheltered, freeing emotional currency for growth.
Our goal is to improve veteran access to resources and other social services by having a space for on site professionals.
We aim to help reduce Veteran unemployment, teach technical and professional skills that can translate into paychecks.
Space for planning and development, administration, check-ing, programming, and support services.
Designate a few offices in the administration building into dorm-style bedrooms to house volunteers during renovation. (Will revert to offices later)
Provide a calm, welcoming area for greeting new residents, service providers, and community partners.
Begin cleaning industrial grade equipment, work areas, and dining area. (Seats 80)
Determine which equipment can be repaired and reused. All appliances are propane.
Salvage equipment for pieces, replace equipment as necessary. (Needs: freezer, cooler, hot water tank)
Establish 15 campsites with full hookups, a handful of primitive campsites, and host camp spot.
Add a gazebo, horseshoe pits, volleyball court, interpretive hiking trails, and benches.
Open this area to the public to help bring in revenue to fund camp renovations and operations.
Comforting communal space for conversation, relationship building, and small group activities.
Renovate communal bathrooms into private, more personal washrooms.
Large scale meeting room for recreation, events, trainings, and job/resource fairs.
Accepting proposals and ideas for renovating this space into private housing options.
Contact us about how you can get involved!
Contact
Go to our website at veteransfoodpantry.org
Swing by Northwest Montana Veterans Stand Down and Food Pantry to learn more!