Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida

Our Programs

Employment Opportunities!

We receive frequent updates from Local, State and Federal employment offices/agencies about employment opportunities in our communities and surrounding areas.  We would be happy to help you get in touch with these agencies.

For More Information, Contact Us at (541) 889-1978 or
Come in and see us at 484 S.W. 4th Ave., Ontario, OR.

Scholarship Programs!

The Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida give out yearly scholarships for Treasure Valley Community College and University of Phoenix.  These scholarships are for dependents of Veterans or active duty military that are serious about pursing their studies.  Applications are filled out by the end of May, and then a committee makes the decision of who will be awarded.  GPA must be maintained.

For More Information, Contact Us at (541) 889-1978 or
Come in and see us at 484 S.W. 4th Ave., Ontario, OR.

Letters to Wounded Warriors:

There are many Service men and women at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, who, having been wounded, spend long hours, weeks, and months on the road to recovery.  We have a volunteer who is willing to travel and visit these men and women.  As part of our program, we want as many people as possible to write to this community.  It means a great deal for these men and women to hear from the American people.

For More Information, Contact Us at (541) 889-1978 or
Come in and see us at 484 S.W. 4th Ave., Ontario, OR.

Pencils for Peace:

We collect, pack and ship many kinds of school supplies to our deployed soldiers.  This program serves a dual purpose: First to open a good relationship between US soldiers and the citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan.  Second to educate the kids of Iraq and Afghanistan.  If you would like to donate to this program please see the contact information below.

For More Information, Contact Us at (541) 889-1978 or
Come in and see us at 484 S.W. 4th Ave., Ontario, OR.

Treats for the Troops:

This program was started in Memory of a local soldier (Josh Brennan) who was killed in Afghanistan.  We pack and ship care packages to our troops who are deployed.  If you are interested in donating to this program click on the link below for a list of suggested items.  If you know of a deployed soldier please click on the link below to send us an e-mail or call us and give us their information so we can send them a care package.  We are always looking for more soldiers to send care packages too.

For More Information, Contact Us at (541) 889-1978 or
Come in and see us at 484 S.W. 4th Ave., Ontario, OR.

Cookies for Combat:

It all started out with a discussion about how to sell more cookies at Maverik Country Stores.  It works like this:  Area Maverik Country Stores hold a promotion to sell cookies for $1. Buyers can either keep their purchases or donate them back to be sent to the troops through the assistance of VAOI.  This project has been combined into our "Treats for the Troops" Program.  During the 2011 Halloween "Combat Cookies" campaign, the 49 Idaho Maverik Country Stores and VAOI collected over 6,000 cookies!!!

For More Information, Contact Us at (541) 889-1978 or
Come in and see us at 484 S.W. 4th Ave., Ontario, OR.

Quilts for the Troops:

Sending quilts to our troops began on Sept. 12, 2001.  Many women gathered to make military regulation quilts for our troops.  To date over 6,000 quilts have been made.  They are made from 100% cotton with a patriotic theme.  On the back upper left corner is a heart patch with the words: “To America’s Sons and Daughters from America’s Mothers and Daughters”.   When the soldier covers with it, the heart sewn on it covers their heart.  VAOI is asking for volunteers to make these quilts so that we can send them overseas.  In September, 2010 we sent 300 quilts that filled the hearts of the men and women.  Some of them left them for a child to keep until their return, and some took them with them.  Each quilt costs $40.00 to make.  If you do not sew, then you can sponsor it for a loved one.

For More Information, Contact Us at (541) 889-1978 or
Come in and see us at 484 S.W. 4th Ave., Ontario, OR.

Honor/Color Guard:

Presenting our National, State and Military Colors at parades and events in conjunction with local Boy Scouts.  Our Honor Guard is comprised of Veterans, Civilians and Boy/Girl Scouts.  We feel that this is one of the greatest honors for the Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida.  If you are having an event in our area and would like an Honor/Color Guard please contact us as we may be able to help or if you would like to participate please send us an e-mail or call us.

For More Information, Contact Us at (541) 889-1978 or
Come in and see us at 484 S.W. 4th Ave., Ontario, OR.

Flag Retiring:

Collecting unserviceable flags in conjunction with the Boy/Girl Scouts to teach our younger generation the proper way to retire unserviceable flags.  If you have unserviceable flags you can drop them off at our office or, if you are in the Treasure Valley, please e-mail or call us and we will be happy to pick them up.

For More Information, Contact Us at (541) 889-1978 or
Come in and see us at 484 S.W. 4th Ave., Ontario, OR.

Vet Voices:

We at Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida would like to offer other vets and the community any experience you may want to share with them — your personal thoughts and/or experiences that you would like to pass on to them in your own words. These timeless entries allow those now and those in the future to know what a day in the life of our dedicated service men and women is like and what you experienced while serving our great country.  Pictures or videos are welcome as well.

For More Information, Contact Us at (541) 889-1978 or
Come in and see us at 484 S.W. 4th Ave., Ontario, OR.

Military Uniforms and Memorabilia:

We are collecting any Military Uniforms and/or Memorabilia to be used for public viewing and display. Items may be donated or loaned to VAOI.  Please, call or e-mail us.  We will pick-up if necessary.  Thank you for honoring our brave Men and Women who sacrificed for all of us by allowing us to display items that represent real people who served our country.

For More Information, Contact Us at (541) 889-1978 or
Come in and see us at 484 S.W. 4th Ave., Ontario, OR.

Veteran Visitation:

We have many Veterans who are in our local nursing homes.  Many of them have little in the way of family.  They love to share their stories about their service.  The volunteers at Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida try to visit these men and women often and take other veterans to visit with them.  We take a group to visit with them, along with lapghans and a few gifts for Christmas.  If you know of any one in need of a visit or would like to help with this very important program, PLEASE, call or e-mail us.

For More Information, Contact Us at (541) 889-1978 or
Come in and see us at 484 S.W. 4th Ave., Ontario, OR.