Service
The Veterans’ Sanctuary is dedicated to community service. We work closely with ISU’s Armed Forces Veterans Club to volunteer for projects that benefit the veterans of Southeast Idaho.
Our efforts included:
- Christmas 2009: The Sanctuary spearheaded a Secret Santa Program called “Operation Gift Wrap,” which provided Christmas presents for several ISU student veterans and their families, as well as some non-student veterans.
Our inaugural effort was a success thanks to the generous donations of many at ISU and in the greater Pocatello and Idaho Falls communities.
The Sanctuary also partnered with local businesses and organizations to provide Christmas gifts for homeless veterans living at the Freedom LZ shelter in Pocatello.
- May 2010: To end the Sanctuary’s first academic year, we partnered with the AFVC to hold a Veterans’ Day Barbeque and Day at the Zoo at Ross Park, which featured music by ISU’s Steel Drum Band and free admission to the Pocatello Zoo for veterans and their families throughout the community. In addition, members of the Idaho Falls chapter of the Armed Forces Veterans’ Club helped the week before Memorial Day at Century High School to set up the Field of Heroes memorial. The unique memorial includes a white cross for every service member killed during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Following Memorial Day, the Field of Heroes is taken down until the following year.
For the 2010-2011 academic year, we have plans to increase our volunteer efforts and look forward to building strong partnerships with other ISU clubs and programs, as well as Veterans Service Organizations throughout the region. One of our top priorities is to support the families of our National Guard students scheduled for deployment in September.