A1 VETERANS PRESS: Sweet service to veterans

Vanilla, chocolate or swirl?  What a delicious choice to ponder for residents, staff and visitors when they visit the North Fork Bistro at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Post Falls. In addition to the popular soft serve delight (it's free!), the Bistro sells assorted drinks, candy and other snacks.

The Veterans Home was dedicated in November 2022, but because of COVID and other circumstances, the Bistro was not able to open for business until March 2024.

"The Bistro has become a 'gathering place' for both veteran residents and staff members," said Len Crosby, treasurer of the Idaho Veterans Assistance League (IVAL) and manager of the Bistro. "We love the opportunity to interact with the residents and staff members and provide them with snacks and drinks."

A designated "Patriots Table" sits outside the Bistro where residents can gather and visit.

"Our volunteers rotate shifts at the Bistro and assist in other activities. They really bond with many of the veteran residents," Crosby said.

All proceeds are used to purchase products with the remaining profits donated to the Veterans Home activities department.     

The Bistro is a small but mighty part of this 64-bed skilled nursing facility which has a centralized community center, chapel, therapy room, salon, dining room, sports bar with big screen televisions and multiple common areas. The facility also includes a common food preparation area, a laundry facility, maintenance supply areas, a covered pickup and drop-off area and parking for 90 vehicles.     

Two State Veteran Service officers (VSOs) have offices in the building. Their job is to help all area veterans, their family members and survivors pursue federal benefits which they have earned through their military service. Applicants for nursing care must be a veteran (wartime or peacetime) or the spouse, widow or widower of a veteran eligible for admission to a home. A veteran with a 70% or more VA disability rating, and the need for skilled care, is entitled to free care at the home. 

A unique fun fact of the facility: the four residential living wings are named after Idaho mountain ranges. Care to guess out of the 115 named mountain ranges in Idaho which four these might be? 

The Bistro is open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Watch out for the run of customers after bingo. Residents can win "Bistro Bucks" and cash them in for treats. After which they casually and gleefully return to the comfort and leisure of their rooms (with vanilla, chocolate or swirl) … on White Cloud, Sawtooth, Clearwater or Caribou.

For more information about the Post Falls Veterans’ Home go to: https://veterans.idaho.gov/veterans-homes/post-falls-veterans-home/.