Longmont’s VFW Post 2601 continues community outreach in new location

Two years ago, the Longs Peak Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2601 celebrated a new chapter as the Veterans Service Organization moved into 340 Lashley St. With military memorabilia on the walls and ample room for food and drinks, the Lashley building was a headquarters for local veterans to support each other and serve the community.

Now, Post 2601 has a new home: the Longmont Elks Lodge at 306 Coffman St.

At the beginning of this year, Post 2601 decided to break its lease with the Lashley site and move completely out of the building. Since February, the VSO has been holding monthly meetings at the Elks Lodge, where Post 2601 rents an office.

The sign for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Longs Peak Post 2601 location is seen in the Lashley Retail Center in Longmont on Thursday. (Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer)

"We really feel like the Elks building is our home," said Jenny Santucci, Post 2601 quartermaster. "We are really making it a partnership — they want us, we want them. So that definitely has given us a lot of pride and momentum."

Santucci said the main reason for leaving the Lashley building was the cost. With rent, plus amenities like electricity, Santucci said Post 2601 was paying around $14,000 per month to stay there.

The cost, paired with the little income that Post 2601 was getting, made Santucci feel like the VSO was "fighting to stay alive." After a majority vote, the post was out of the building by Feb. 1.

"We were working so hard to just pay the bills, and we felt we weren't really doing our mission of taking care of our veterans in our community," Santucci said.

The members of Post 2601 had been considering getting out of the lease, or potentially subleasing the space, since last year. Santucci believes the post left the Lashley building in good shape.

"It is a way (more) rentable place than it was before we had moved in," Santucci said.

Since the office at the Elks Lodge is small, the decorations and furnishings from the Lashley building were moved into a storage unit, rather than put on display in the new space. Those items might get donated to a museum if the post doesn't move into a new home again, Santucci said.

Despite the loss of its own building, Post 2601 is wrapping up a busy year. The VSO raised money for the Veterans Community Project tiny home village in Longmont; secured wheelchairs and ramps for veterans; attended Memorial Day and Fourth of July services; and helped fellow Longmont VSO, the American Legion Post 32, put on a Stand Down event.

"We've still been very active, been more involved in the community," said Nicholas Miner, commander for Post 2601. "Changing posts really hasn't slowed us down at all."

For lease signs and locked doors are seen on the former Veterans of Foreign Wars Longs Peak Post 2601 location in the Lashley Retail Center in Longmont on Thursday. (Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer)

Post 2601 currently has around 300 members. Miner started as commander in May, after the post had vacated the Lashley building. While the shift to the Elks Lodge has been an adjustment, Miner said the new meeting spot is accessible for members.

"It's pretty close to the Lashley place, as well," Miner said. "I think for most of our members, it was a pretty minimal change."

The Lashley building is still empty, with "for lease" signs in the windows. Miner said the post wishes well to whoever inhabits the space next.

There are some challenges to running meetings out of the Elks Lodge, Miner said, like having to work around the lodge's schedule. Not having to rent out or manage the Lashley building, however, is what Miner called a load off his shoulders.

"They're a fraternal order, as well," Miner said of the Elks Lodge. "Part of their mission is to support veterans. They're doing a great thing by giving us a place to stay."