CCVAC Annual Report 2025

Clark County Veterans Assistance Center

Annual Report 2025

From the CCVAC Staff 2025 ended as a landmark year for CCVAC. We have benefitted from the generosity of our community, the tenacity of our volunteers, and the dedication of our staff and board of directors. We truly could not succeed without the contributions of so many talented and considerate people.

While the center has grown tremendously in the last 15 years, so has the demand for our services. In these uncertain times, our commitment to our local Veteran community is as critical as it ever has been.

Sonja Wood, President As we enter year 16, our focus lies firmly on expanding services, professionalizing operations, and (as always) serving those who served. We are proud to serve Clark County both in 2026, and for many years to come.

Yours Truly,

CCVAC Staff (Sonja, Tami, Amber, Dee, Mark, Diane, & Sybil)

CCVAC Staff (L to R): Amber, Sybil, Diane, Mark, Dee Not Pictured: Tami

What is CCVAC?

The Clark County Veterans Assistance Center (CCVAC) was born from many conversations by local Vietnam Veterans who said, “There oughta be a place…” Through the dedication of countless volunteer hours, the center opened in 2011 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The mission was, and remains, that of providing a welcome and safe environment to assist Veterans and their families.

Now entering our 16th year, CCVAC’s service footprint continues to expand.

Our services now include administering the County Vet Fund, VA claims assistance through two Veteran Service Officers on-site, a food pantry, clothing, meals, a day shelter, a community event space, hosting an annual Stand Down, monthly haircuts, and more.

The CCVAC represents the Clark County community’s commitment to the success of our local veterans. That community and support system are invaluable to those in need.

Our Mission The Clark County Veterans Assistance Center provides a welcoming and safe environment where Veterans and their families can access the benefits, services, and resources needed to meet basic needs and achieve stability and success in the community.

Who We Are 29 Active Volunteers

16+ Monthly Hours

7 Full-Time Staff

96% of Every Donation

Fun Facts

The center is almost entirely staffed by volunteers.

Our volunteers commit to at least one 4-hour shift every week.

We have 7 full-time staff, including 2 Veteran Service Officers on-site.

96% of every dollar donated in 2025 went directly to Veteran services.

CCVAC coordinates an annual Veteran’s Stand Down, a community event that provides homeless and at-risk Veterans with essential services all in one place. We saw 189 Veterans at this event in 2025.

Due to increased Veteran needs, the Clark County Veterans Assistance Fund exceeded its budget before the end of 2025. Through the fundraising and grant-writing efforts of the CCVAC, no qualifying Veteran was turned away.

In Clark County in 2025, a Veteran became newly homeless every 2.5 days on average.

What We Did in 2025 57,233 lbs of Food Distributed 9,824 Meals Served 1,441 Total Veterans Assisted 7,554 Hours Volunteered 76 Veterans Buried 21 Veterans Housed 167 Evictions Prevented 97 Utility Bills Paid 1 New Building!

New Building Spotlight A letter from outgoing president Judy Russel

In 2011, Clark County Veterans Assistance Center opened its doors to assist Veterans in Clark County. We were a referral center, having just one Veteran Service Officer and two chaplains, with listening ears, donuts and the best coffee around. We had approximately 2,000 square feet on the bottom floor of a building on Columbia Street.

By 2015, we had grown. We were housing the Veterans Assistance Fund, and we took over the upstairs as well. This gave us about 4,000 square feet. We functioned in that space (we still don’t know how) until 2025.

In 2025, the CCVAC was asked by the County to find a bigger building to house the Veterans Assistance fund and increase services for the Veteran population of Clark County. Several prominent community leaders including Buck Marr, Larry Smith, and Mike Burton set out to help us do that. Buck had a neighbor, Albert Angelo who just happened to have a building that would work. His only stipulation was that the Assistance Center must be able to expand services for our Veterans. We are certainly able to do that with our 10,000 square foot space.

In just our first six months in our new building at 907 Harney Street, we are able to offer many more services. We now offer activities in our lounge such as puzzles, books, and games. We also offer hot lunches once per month, bi-monthly mental health workshops in partnership with NAMI, WorkSource appointments on-site, and have even hosted a memorial service.

In the future, we hope to offer resume building and job search workshops, computers in the lounge for digital services, financial literacy workshops, vaccine clinics through the VA, a meeting space for Veteran service organizations, new events such as a Veterans Craft Fair, and many other services in conjunction with community organizations. These services will only expand as we recruit more volunteers.

Come and volunteer with us! We have the space, now we need the folks.

How You Can Help

Clark County Veterans Assistance Center is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

Federal Tax ID #27-3077905

Donate Your Time

Donate Your Connections

Donate Your Treasure

Become a CCVAC Volunteer. Volunteers serve a critical role in our day-today operations.

Connect CCVAC with your network of personal and professional supporters.

All donations are taxdeductible and support your local Veterans.

Contact CCVAC 907 Harney St Suite 200 Vancouver, WA 98660

(360) 693-7030

ccvac@ccvac.net

www.ccvac.net

ClarkCountyVeteransAssistanceCenter

@ccvacenter