Local Veteran Nonprofit Pays Holiday Bills for Southwest Veterans
A Silverton based nonprofit distributed $3,500 in donated funds the week of December 6 to pay past due utility bills and provide other emergency aid to veterans across southwest Colorado, including a recipient in Cortez. The effort highlights the role community organizations play in filling gaps in veterans services, and raises questions about long term supports for mental health and basic needs in rural counties.
San Juan Mountain Adventures used donated funds to provide holiday relief to veterans across southwest Colorado, paying past due electric and gas bills and helping with hotel stays, vehicle repairs, groceries and other needs. The nonprofit announced the distribution ahead of Christmas on December 6, directing aid to veterans who face immediate financial strain during the winter months, including at least one person who lives in Cortez.
The organization was founded in 2023 by Jimmy S. Keene II, a military veteran who relocated to Silverton to manage post traumatic stress through outdoor activity. Keene, who completed three combat tours, moved to the area six years ago after summer visits helped him find relief. He described the change in his own health this way, "I was taking six, seven, eight medications a day, and after living here for one year, I was medication free, just because of the therapeutic benefits of the outdoors."
San Juan Mountain Adventures typically organizes therapeutic outdoor trips to the San Juan Mountains for veterans, operating largely on a volunteer model. This seasonal assistance represents a shift from recreational programming to emergency financial aid, made possible by community donations that the nonprofit allocated to immediate needs for veterans in the region.
For San Juan County residents the aid underscores both the strengths and limits of local support networks. Community organizations can move quickly to meet urgent needs, and small sums can prevent shut offs, homelessness and medical disruptions. At the same time, the situation points to systemic gaps that affect rural veterans, including barriers to consistent access to mental health care, transportation for appointments, and benefits navigation in areas with sparse services.
Public health officials and policymakers face decisions about how to fund and coordinate care for veterans who live outside metropolitan centers. Strengthening partnerships among county social services, regional veteran outreach teams and local nonprofits could reduce reliance on one time donations and improve continuity of care. Residents who want to see or support the work can find San Juan Mountain Adventures on its Facebook page where the organization shared photos and updates about the holiday assistance.
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