A fresh kitchen and dining room remodel underway at the Veterans of Foreign Wars will allow Post 4031 to bring back to life its lower floor, which had fallen into disrepair.
Demetrius Lewis, a Post 4031 board member, aims to have a mostly finished remodel, complete with new kitchen appliances, ready for an April 5 brunch planned to christen the renovated bottom floor.
“Downstairs just wasn’t being used, and we need to raise money to help veterans. The last time the kitchen was used, I think was 2011,” Lewis said during a tour of the space Monday.
The project has a budget of $110,000, and Lewis is looking for donations to complete the work. So far, $27,000 has been raised. Also, an array of in-kind donations for labor and material from businesses and individuals around town has helped.
Lewis, who for six years, has managed a breakfast for veterans, their families and their supporters on the first and third Sundays of the month, is currently serving the meals at the Exhibit Building at the La Plata County Fairgrounds, but he plans to move the event to Post 4031’s bottom floor upon completion of the work.
The April 5 brunch is planned from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“We may not be completely finished, but we’ll be close enough. The kitchen will be done, so it won’t affect the cooking, but the way the place looks might not be quite done,” he said.
The kitchen remodel will include a new stove, refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher, oven, deep fryer, charbroiler, hood and fire-suppression system, and take up about 600 square feet. The dining room remodel will include new flooring, sheet rock, ceiling and an added serving-line area.
Lewis also plans to wire for media and have televisions installed throughout the dining area, even one in the kitchen that could be used for culinary classes.
The area will be available as a rental for meetings, conferences, parties and gatherings for sporting events. “I’m just looking to the future so when someone’s looking to rent, I have all the bells and whistles,” he said.
A few big monetary donations have come from Santé Dispensary and Alpine Bank.
Donations can be made by writing a check to VFW Post 4031 and noting “kitchen remodel” in the notes field. A GoFundMe page is also up.
As important as monetary donations, Lewis said, has been donations of labor from Post 4031 members and material from businesses.
Business donations have included: Lewis Mercantile Co. in Bayfield, insulation; Alpine Lumber, sheet rock; The Tile Store in Pagosa Springs, flooring; Ferguson Enterprises, water heaters and industrial sink; Cal Steel & Sheet Metal, hooding and fire suppression system; Concrete Specialties, concrete work; Tile Art and Light Art, lighting; and JT Plumbing, labor.
Liquor World has donated a panini sandwich machine, which the Post eventually plans to use to offer sandwiches, snacks and finger food for the bar upstairs.
“That might take some time,” Lewis said of the idea to add food to the upstairs bar.
Lewis said he’s always looking for people willing to donate labor.
“This is a great venue, and it can be used to help generate money to help veterans,” he said.
parmijo@durangoherald.com
