Local nonprofit helps veterans with utility bills before Christmas

San Juan Mountain Adventures, a Silverton based nonprofit founded in 2023 by combat veteran Jimmy S. Keene II, moved quickly to get holiday funds into the hands of veterans across Southwest Colorado. On December 6, 2025 the organization used a $3,500 donation from a Durango business to cover past due utility bills and to project payments through Christmas for several veterans, including a Cortez resident identified as Erik who was injured in combat.

Keene started the organization after moving to Silverton to manage PTSD through outdoor activities. The nonprofit typically brings veterans into the San Juan Mountains for therapeutic outdoor trips, and it also provides direct assistance when needs arise. The recent donation came from a business that had previously supported homeless veterans, and the donor requested stronger verification that funds would reach veterans in need. Keene agreed to distribute the entire amount by Christmas and kept the holiday fund tracked separately from operating funds.

Volunteers with San Juan Mountain Adventures arranged payments for recipients in Grand Junction and Montrose, and the group began planning additional outreach for homeless veterans in Durango. The organization operates entirely with volunteers, and regular donations are used to cover insurance, permits and activity costs for the therapeutic trips. Donations for ongoing operations can be made through Zeffy or by contacting San Juan Mountain Adventures directly.

The immediate impact of preventing utility shutoffs is substantial in cold months. Keeping heat and lights on reduces risks of hypothermia and exacerbation of chronic illness, and it can help stabilize mental health for people living with service related injuries and PTSD. For rural communities such as Dolores County, gaps in access to steady veteran services and economic hardship make small neighborhood efforts lifesaving, but they also expose systemic shortfalls in how supports are delivered.

Community level responses matter, yet sustainable solutions will require better coordination between local agencies, veteran services and utility assistance programs. For now, volunteer led groups like San Juan Mountain Adventures fill urgent needs, and their work underscores the importance of steady funding streams, clear verification processes that do not create barriers, and policy attention to rural veterans facing winter hardships.