Veterans Outreach Center is primarily a suicide intervention outreach for local veterans who have lost hope. Founded by Benewah County resident Hank Thorton, the Idaho Division of Veterans Services agreed to back the Veterans Outreach Center (VOC) after a veteran committed suicide and it was apparent there was a need for intervention in the county. The VOC has served nearly 300 veterans in Benewah County alone. And now, the expansion has come to Boundary County.
In March of 2025, Ben and Kari Apo approached the Idaho Division of Veterans Services following Hank’s lead, and the Veterans Outreach Center of Boundary County was born.
“Several years ago, the Idaho Division of Veterans Services representative, Mitzi Cheldelin, visited as many veterans’ organizations in Idaho as she could to help implement networking among the groups and help share resources.” Kari says, “Upon visiting Bonners Ferry, she recognized our potential and need for an outreach center and approached our local veterans’ organizations in October of 2024 to gauge our willingness to start an outreach center.”
According to the Veterans Administration, there were 63 registered veteran suicides in 2022. This number is those that we know of but not including all who have served.
Each Friday from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m., the VOC comes together for Coffee Klatch at the Chick ‘n Chop at 6421 Main Street in Bonners Ferry to drink coffee and talk shop. They would like to invite you to join them, whether you are a veteran, know a veteran or love a veteran, come out and see what it’s all about! There is no membership or commitment to. Just show up!
According to North American Community Hub Statistics, “In some communities, especially tight-knit rural or traditional ones, there’s still a strong ‘tough it out’ mentality. That attitude can discourage people from talking about mental health or seeking help — and PTSD goes untreated.”
Ron Spencer, a retired veteran and veteran visitor extraordinaire, has a heart as big as Texas and it shows. He regularly visits Sunset Home and the Boundary County Restorium to chat with any veterans who will have it. He is so excited to help in any way he can and be the hands and feet that many need.
Jason Legler was up to visit Bonners Ferry last Friday and join the VOC from the Regional Idaho Division of Veterans Services. He is excited to attend the Friday coffee klatch more often and discuss services that are needed in Boundary County and just have some coffee with the group.
“The heart, the purpose (of the VOC) is the veteran.” Ron Spencer says, “So many struggled with reintegration into ‘normal’ society, it can take decades, if ever, to feel ‘right’ or ‘normal’ again. One of the goals of the center is to have a place where vets can go and be themselves and be around other vets who have gone through it, no matter what ‘it’ might be.
Leaving the military, they lose that brotherhood/sisterhood that was so integral, and it can feel unmoored, at sea. All of our vets in the core group have gone through that to some degree or another, and they are so dedicated to offer a hand up. We really want a place for comradery without pressure to ‘join a club’.”
Tom Chaney, a long time Boundary County resident and veteran, couldn’t be more thrilled to serve alongside such a fantastic group of like-minded individuals. He loves to talk and drink coffee and has a deep passion for those who are serving and have served.
“The true heart of the VOC is a hot cup of black coffee,” he said. “Nothing needs to be said between two veterans as they sit across the table from each other staring into the endless black of the cup, a simple, ‘please and thank you’ to a waitress as she it keeps full is just the same as your soul is filled by just sitting with your Brother or your Sister, so yes, a simple cup of coffee is not all that it seems. It is much more to us veterans.
“I am truly grateful for the love and respect that each and every one that is involved with the VOC has shown. I feel truly blessed after years of trying to do life after service without those who ‘get it’ that now I’m not doing it alone!”