The only Veteran Support organization that has NO DUES-- NO STRINGS ATTACHED for any veteran, active military and their families that walks through their doors... They are located at 180 W Idaho, Ontario, Oregon, 97914. The smiles are great and the is coffee hot with no cost... Good folks with a big heart. The volunteers are super! Stop in and say Hi !
I do not think that there is any question about the quality of VAOI. It has opened its doors to our veterans and their families and has stepped up to help, if help is needed. They continue to be there when others are not. They have helped me with food for my family with no questions. They hooked me up with the Vet Center for a problem I had from my deployments and has saved me from the road I was taking and helped me with getting a job. They are good folks doing good work. I thank them for being there for me.
Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida is all volunteers with smilies in their hearts. It is an organization that welcomes all military members and families. Their office is open each day and do not ask for dues from anyone walking in. They have a working relationship with the Boise VA Mental Health division for tele-counseling and make available a location for veterans too take advantage of counseling without having to travel out of the community. The organization also works with the Vet Center and makes space available in the community for combat veterans and families to receive mental health help. A great group doing their best to help service-members and families. Thank you.
Review from Guidestar
VAOI is the best veteran support organization I have ever donated to. I am able to see what they have done in the community and have heard very good reviews from veterans and the families they have helped....
Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida is the only Veteran Support organization that welcomes all that walk through their door with a smile. They greeted me with open arms and made me feel that the service to my country was important. They participate in many community projects, such as, some in the organization act as mentors to those going through the Veterans Court process. They have also set up in their office a tele-counciling with the Boise VA. This allows a veteran to get mental health help without having to travel a.ll the way to Boise, Idaho. They charge nothing for their help and have no dues, free coffee and when I was in there they had some snacks... Real good people that just want to help with no strings attached.
The Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida have helped many Veterans and their families that I know in the Ontario, Or. area who are without jobs and need a helping hand. They have also helped many vets in this greater western treasure valley area with access to counciling and mental health matters. The work they are doing to also establish a veterans court here is admirable and I wish them well. I am always warmly welcomed when I go to their office to talk about the problems our servicemen and women are facing. The people at the VAOI are making a difference and continue to do something meaningful in our community.
While here VAOI I discovered a whole new arena of giving than I have known. Not only the vets who are over seas but also with dignity and respect to homeland vets and families experience a warm environment and caring souls who are willing to do their best in helping either by what they can personally do inside the agency or outside in the community. It is a pleasure to see the hand of sincere help assist persons they see and those that are invisible to the eye but close to our heart. I am a Viet Nam Veteran and am awed at the outpouring of giving I am experienced while working here. VAOI has assist myself in need with transportation cost so I could continue to work and not miss because of no gas for my vehicle.
I have been in the Vets Advocates office several times. Anyone who walks through their door, is made to feel very welcome and at home. Whether they came in for help, or just to look around..they are greeted with friendly smiles and a warm welcome. They care. I have volunteered there, bought flags there, donated, and just popped in to say hi. I have seen them helping veterans. They are very knowledgeable and helpful, in what they do. Our veterans need their services. They deserve it. They have earned it. I am not a veteran, but I am glad to be a very small part of this organization.
It has been my pleasure to be a volunteer at Veterans Advocates of Ore-Ida for some time now. I pack care packages! You know, that little box of home comfort from the USA that our military people get a boost from after a long hard days work. I can't tell you the number of times that I have received thank yous from soldiers who came in and found that box waiting on their bed and I quote,"just when I needed it the most". It's not just the contents, it's receiving the gift of "yes, we remember you and we care." Many times they have no faces to go with our signed notes that are enclosed until they are finally able to return home. Whether it's packing a box or sharing a cup of coffee with a WWII Vet, I feel privileged to be connected to all the caring people who make this work.
I received letters of support from this group and from the school kids and pre-school kids that this organization put together for me and the men in my outfit. When I came back they supported me with a nice place to sit and relax and talk. Thank you to them and all they do for the National Guard.
I want to mention about some really great support I got from the Veteran Advocates of ore-Ida in Ontario, Oregon, and a couple of my buddies too. A friend passed on my APO address to the Advocates and they started sending me boxes full of really good stuff we could use while deployed and some really great letters from the kids about how they are thankful we're protecting them That meant a lot to us. I told the advocates how much their boxes meant to us and mentioned about 2 of my buddies that didn't get things from home and they sent them boxes too. Its great to have folks homeside who really care and do things for us. Thank you - from an Iraq Vet
This organization has gone out of their way to work with many agencies across boarders and around the Nation. They seem to have contacts within the Federal Government, State Government and Local Government as well as private agencies and other 501 c groups to help our U.S. Military Veterans. I have been helped by just going in to their location and sitting down and talking with other Veterans about my issues. Great place to enjoy and a safe place for any Veteran to hang out and not have to worry about them asking for money. They might not be able to help all that walk in but they sure try harder that any other group that I have been to.
I have seen the caring concern that each person who is involved with the Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida shows toward veterans, active duty military and their families When you walk into their office, you are greated with a smiling face and a feeling of welcome and respect. They always have the coffee pot on and are willing to listen mo matter how busy they may be. They depend only on donations and they value a dollor donation as much as a $100.00 donation. They send out personal thank you to every one who donates, no matter how small or large the donation. It is a "safe" place that anyone can go and feel important.The stafft takes the time to listn and then they make every effort to either ulilize community resources or dig into their pockets to help if the need arises. If you love your country, then you will give to the Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida so that they can help advocate, support and give a voice to all of our men and women in the Armed Forces both past and present.
I received great information from someone in the office over my benefits. They said that they could not do the paperwork in the office but for me to contact this person (they handed me a folded paper) I contacted him and got everything worked out. I was surprised to see that they had information from every veterans group on their shelfs. They told me that they were like a hub for information from many sources. I guess this is what you would call a "one stop shop".
The Veteran Advocates of Ore-Ida is very active in the community. They support most if not all of the other non-profits in the area. I know of several hundred veterans or community members that have received help and/or information from the people that staff their office.
I watched this organization grow from a group of five people to now more than hundreds of people all with the same goal of helping Veterans, Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve and any family member of these groups if needed.They think outside the box by not having any dues and rely on just volunteers from all parts of the community.