Welding sparks flew in the air as Rick Torres welded a handicapped railing, a generator whirred to life, a saw buzzed, and fresh concrete was scraped over sidewalk holes.
It was how Darla Sanders had pictured it would be — the community coming together to help veterans.
The volunteers at what will be the Veterans Outreach Center had just three more days to get the old house ready for its big day. The center will have a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Veterans Day at 2 p.m.
“It is going wonderful,” Sanders said.
“Once the ribbon cutting is done, everyone can look around and see what we have.”
There are going to be other events Tuesday. The American Legion serves breakfast at 7 a.m., Dolores schools will put on a program in Dolores at 9 a.m., the Elks will host a free lunch for veterans, and there will be a parade in Cortez at 1 p.m. down Montezuma Ave.
Sanders said the crew worked all weekend on the Outreach Center.
“We have a lot of work to do,” she said.
It was in the first part of May that the idea to have a Veterans Outreach Center came to Sanders.
“I said a prayer, ‘Lord, I know there is something you want me to do, but I don’t know what it is, so you will have to show me,’” she said. “I felt there was more I could do for veterans.”
The VFW has a post home in Mancos, but it has limited hours, Sanders said. Sanders also works with the Disabled American Veterans Dunger Smith Chapter 44 in Cortez.
“I thought it would be so nice to have a building, and we could open it and have veterans come in all the time,” she said.
On Friday, that home on First Street was shaping up to be that place, after a deal with the owner exchanging a year’s worth of free rent for sweat equity. Sanders proudly showed off the renovated kitchen, the reception area and what will become the computer room and TV room.
The center will have areas for veterans to socialize, and a computer area for veterans to research jobs and contact the VA, Sanders said.
“We are going to have all sorts of community resources represented as well,” Sanders said. “This will be a second home for veterans.”
“Veterans talking to veterans, they can talk to each other and understand each other the way other people can’t,” she said.
The DAV currently operates a shuttle service to transport veterans to VA hospitals in Durango and Farmington.
For more information about the DAV or to assist with the outreach center, call Darla Sanders at (970) 560-2793.