MONTE VISTA – Valley Veterans Recreation founder and president DJ Salazar was all smiles in the group’s new building at 9 Washington St. Salazar and executive director Craig Rauwolf are excited to be hosting the group’s coffee socials at the building. 

Seven people attended the coffee social on Friday, Dec. 13, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. There was coffee, donuts, and fellowship.  

Salazar spoke about VVR and how the building is a dream realized. 

“We started buying this place now in 2024. We are stoked about this. We are two thirds of the way completed, so we have just one third left to pay on this building. We are working on raising the rest of the funds. We are trying to get the word out there. For senior and younger Veterans, from my perspective, one of the things we found out was, it’s hard to find resources here. When I would go out to volunteer to help get Veterans outdoors, I really saw the need for more resources and activities. Pre Valley Veterans, we started with some ice fishing socials to help get Veterans outdoors, and it just went on from there. Our group is about making sure we have resources available to Veterans, and we have partnered with different non-profit organizations and funders. We have somebody from almost each Veteran organization, either on the board or they come to our socials too,” he said.  

Rauwolf also spoke about VVR and what they wanted to do to assist Veterans with the non-profit organization. 

“We are a 501C3. Our idea is to get Veterans actively engaging in these recreational activities, for the camaraderie, and for fun; the engagement for them is so important. We also have this building now, that is the only Veteran specific resource hub for all six counties. Most vets don’t understand what is available to them, what resources are available to them, or where to go and how to start. We want to help them with these resources. Part of what we want to do is be that one single source for everything for them. We want you to be able to come to us, and we can point you in the right direction with our resources and what we have, to help you get what you need,” he said.  

Rauwolf and Salazar are excited about the new building and the coffee socials, they plan to have some of the building available to help other non-profit organizations. Salazar said that they want to make the building a Veteran headquarters center. 

On the south side of the building, they plan to have a conference room and some office space. According to Salazar, the conference room will be available to other non-profit organizations and Veteran organizations for special use. They plan to list dates when the conference room will be available on their website. 

Salazar said that the part of the building that they have that is a garage will be used for their 4x4 groups, and to help Veterans with oil changes. The dates available for Veterans to come and change their oil will also be posted on their website. They plan to also use the garage for group trips, and to help Veterans check their cars before and after the group trips too. 

The group is currently fundraising and taking donations to finish paying for their building. They will also need assistance in remodeling the building after it is paid for. The group would like to thank the LOR Foundation and CHAFA for their help with the building, both organizations have helped them generously with their initial payments on the building to get them it two-thirds of the way paid.  

Although VVR does have a long way to go before everything is finished in the building, they are hopeful for the best outcome to help Veterans all over the valley and beyond.  

The group has coffee socials every Friday from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Regular hours for the building are currently every Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.  

The group is also holding an archery shoot on Jan. 11. Information is available online. 

For more information on the group, to donate, or upcoming events, visit their website at valleyvetrec.org.