Claus, Paws, & Community — A Holiday Gathering for Veterans & Families

This month, we’re bringing warmth, connection, and a little holiday magic to the Ranch. On Saturday, December 13th, from 12–3pm, we’re hosting Claus, Paws, and Community — an event created especially for veterans, their families, and friends of the Ranch.

One of our own Ranch veterans is dusting off his Santa suit just for the day, and we’d love to share this memorable afternoon with you.

Here’s what to expect (Please be sure to RSVP):

📸 Photos with Santa
Whether you’re 5 or 75, our veteran Santa guarantees a great holiday photo.

🐶 Street Dog Hero Adoption Meet & Greet
Meet a handful of adoptable pups and maybe even find your next adventure partner.

👚 Reveille & Retreat’s Women Veterans Clothing Swap
Dozens of donated items ready for browsing — created with our women veterans in mind.

🔥 Bonfire + S’mores + Warm Drinks
A cozy outdoor space to relax, reconnect, and soak in the season.

🎄 Handmade Ornament Station (RSVP Required)
Bring a favorite photo and turn it into a keepsake.
Materials are limited — RSVP early to reserve your spot.

👉 RSVP
Click the RSVP link above or reply to this email and we’ll get you on the list.

RSVP is required for the ornament station, and appreciated for the full event so we can prepare to welcome you.

We’ve heard your requests for more family-friendly gatherings and more women veteran–centered activities, and we hope this holiday event brings both joy and community to your season.

🙌 Lend a Hand to Make the Day Magical

We could use a few extra hands — and a few festive supplies — to help bring this holiday gathering to life. If you’re able to volunteer or contribute in-kind items, we’d be incredibly grateful.

Volunteer Opportunities

🎄 Decorating & Set-Up
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Help us transform the Ranch into a cozy holiday space for veterans and their families.

📸 Santa Photo Support; Assist with photos, manage the line, and help families capture a great moment with our veteran Santa.

• 12:00–1:30 PM

• 1:30–3:00 PM
  
  

📋 Check-In Support: Welcome guests, manage sign-ins, and help keep the flow of the event smooth and friendly.

• 12:00–1:30 PM

• 1:30–3:00 PM
  
  

To make the day warm, cheerful, and well-stocked, we’re also looking for:

• Holiday décor for the tree, indoor/outdoor spaces, garage, and Santa backdrop

• Christmas lights

• Cookies and baked goods

• Snacks

• Small hot drink cups with lids

• Hot cocoa, tea, and cider

If you can help with any of the above, please email heatherm@covranch.org — thank you for helping create a welcoming holiday event for our veterans and their families.

🌟 Community Spotlight

A Huge Thank You to Mountain Sky Landscaping

On November 13th, over 50 employees from Mountain Sky Landscaping spent their entire day at the Ranch — and what they accomplished was nothing short of extraordinary.

Their donated labor, expertise, and materials helped complete projects that have been on our wish list for years, including:

• Major repairs and upgrades to our Combat Outpost Salisbury

• Extensive property-wide clean-up and weeding

• Significant irrigation repairs and improvements

• Fresh rock and mulch installation across key areas

• General refresh work that made our grounds more functional and beautiful

Their generosity helped us achieve in a single day what would have taken our small staff months. We are deeply grateful for their commitment to veterans and for showing what community support makes possible.

If you’re planning landscaping work of your own, we encourage you to consider Mountain Sky — their commitment to community and quality shines through in everything they do. Check out their website here 

🦃 VetsGiving Success

A Night of Food, Gratitude, and Connection

Our VetsGiving celebration on November 24th was an incredible evening. More than 55 veterans and family members joined us to share a holiday meal and fellowship.

The buffet-style setup gave everyone space to mingle, reconnect, and write holiday encouragement cards for Oregon National Guard soldiers currently deployed. The room was filled with warmth, conversation, and the sense of belonging that remains at the heart of the Ranch.

Thank you to every volunteer, donor, and community member who helped make the evening meaningful.

🎁 Central Oregon Gives 2025

The season of gratitude and giving has arrived! Central Oregon Gives kicked off Thursday, November 6. COVR is in the Health & Environment category — and we’re aiming to win for:

• Most raised in our category

• Overall total raised

• Most gifts under $25 (every small gift counts!)

Follow our social channels or the Central Oregon Gives website each week for fun donor incentives from campaign sponsors. Your gift keeps programs and operations strong all winter. We've posted the last four weeks' incentives below. Click here to donate and receive a cool incentive today!

🎉A Fresh Chapter for the Ranch

We’ve been quietly laying the groundwork for a more welcoming and inclusive experience for the veterans of Central Oregon — especially those who haven’t always seen themselves reflected in traditional veteran spaces. With deeper outreach, new partnerships, and a growing number of first-time visitors, the Ranch is evolving in exciting ways.

Over the next month, we’ll be rolling out an updated visual identity that reflects who we are today: rooted in nature, centered on community, and committed to growth.
The mission remains the same — we’re just giving it a refreshed look.

💡 How You Can Help This Month

• Extra hands to help tidy and refresh spaces like the kitchen, closets, storage, and shared areas. Every bit of help makes the Ranch more welcoming and functional for our veterans and visitors.
• Collecting bottles and cans -We have COVR collection bags available for pick-up at the Ranch or can deliver them to local businesses that want to participate. 

If you'd like to help in any way, please contact Heather Martin at heatherm@covranch.org or by calling (925) 595-4490.

🧻 Current Needs at the Ranch

We’re in need of some everyday essentials that support our operations and volunteer programming:

• Bottled Drinks: Water, sparkling water, sports drinks, and canned beverages

• Tupperware: Food storage containers 
• New or gently used cookware: Contact us for specific needs

Donations can be dropped off during our regular hours or coordinated by emailing info@covranch.org. Every contribution — big or small — helps keep the Ranch a welcoming and functional space for all who visit.

🕘 New Seasonal Hours (Reminder)

To focus our resources and keep the Ranch running strong through winter:

• Closed: Sunday & Monday

• Open: Tuesday–Saturday, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM

Thank you for your understanding as we align operations with community needs and winter conditions.

🙌 Weekly at the Ranch

• Volunteer Day — Thursdays, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
  Come lend a hand with ranch projects and greenhouse work.
  Lunch is provided at 12:00 PM. (Thank you to our incredible lunch sponsors!)

Want to provide or sponsor a Thursday lunch? Click this link.

💛 Keep the Momentum Growing

Every partner, project, and shared meal strengthens a community of healing and purpose for veterans.

• Make a gift today

• Volunteer or partner: info@covranch.org

• Follow & share our story: Facebook, Instagram, & LinkedIn!