Veterans organization raising funds to open drop-in center in March

? What: Freedom Flapjack Breakfast.

? When: 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, March 12.

? Where: Salmon Creek Applebee’s, 13006 N.E. Highway 99.

? Contributions: To donate to the Clark County Veterans Assistance Center, mail checks to CCVAC, P.O. Box 56, Vancouver, WA 98666. Donation receipts will be sent to the address on the check or mailing address, if provided.

? Cost: Advance tickets $7 .

? Information: Call Milada Allen, executive director of the Clark County Veterans Assistance Center, at 360-573-4030, or Marti Sanders, CCVAC committee member, at 360-896-9695 ext. 21.

A new nonprofit organization plans to open a drop-in center for veterans in Vancouver.

Vancouver chaplain and veterans’ advocate Ron Brandon, a former U.S. Marine who served in the Vietnam War, said the Clark County Veterans Assistance Center has rented space at 1305 Columbia St. in downtown.

Brandon said he and other volunteers plan on starting to set up the space March 1, with the goal of opening later in the month.

“It’s going to take a couple of weeks to get everything together, and to get volunteers trained,” Brandon said.

He said the center is envisioned as a space where veterans, primarily the younger generation home from Iraq and Afghanistan, can drop in for advice, counseling or simply company.

“We hope to be helpful in finding jobs and housing,” Brandon said. “We hope to provide a whole array of services.”

He said some veterans are more comfortable in seeking help from fellow veterans. “They can just come and talk and have a cup of coffee or maybe a doughnut. If they happen to have needs, maybe we’ll be able to point them in the right direction,” he added.

Brandon said they hope to have a hang-out space, with couches and chairs, in addition to Internet access.

While the group has been raising money and plans to apply for grants, they are accepting donations, Brandon said.

They will accept furniture and office supplies, as well as boots, socks, jackets and other necessities they hope to stockpile for veterans in need.

The group’s first fundraising event is March 12, a “Freedom Flapjack Breakfast” at Applebee’s in Salmon Creek.

Once the center opens, Brandon said it will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“Maybe we can make a difference,” Brandon said.

Stephanie Rice: 360-735-4508 or stephanie.rice@columbian.com.