Stanwood-Camano Veterans Museum & Resource Center

02/22/2026

TRICARE and VA Community Care Mental Healthcare Providers,

If you’ve had problems with TRICARE or the VA Community Care Network claims, underpayments, referrals, or incorrect tax reports, now is your chance to voice your concerns to congress.

We are gathering direct input from providers in Washington about the problems with providing mental healthcare to active duty service members, veterans, and their families; and how those issues have impacted:
- Your willingness to work with TRICARE or VA Community Care
- Your ability to continue serving these clients
- The military, veterans, and families you support

Please email me at [email protected] with the problems you have had working with TRICARE and the VA by Tuesday, 24 Feb 26 so it can be incorporated into discussions with individuals briefing Congress on fixing veteran mental healthcare systems.

If you would like to join the discussion to share your provider’s story Wednesday, 25 Feb, 08:30am please also let me know in your email.

Apologies for the short notice, and thanks for caring for our heroes and their families,

Dan Abshere, LMHC, Lt Col, USAF (Ret)
Director of Veteran Support, Stanwood-Camano Veterans Center
Director & Counselor, Camano Counseling & Wellness

01/10/2026

Thank you to all of our donors and volunteers who turned out for last night's celebration. Special thanks to Edward Lynne Cellars Winery, Nourishing Nomad, Camano Island Chamber of Commerce, and Savanna Woods Music. Watch this clip for Savanna's salute to the military with the Veteran Gangster's Paradise.

01/04/2026

Last chance to donate to attend the first annual Donors & Volunteers Celebration this Friday, Jan 9th, 6pm. Enjoy delicious appetizers, amazing wine from Edward Lynne Cellars, and an awesome live performance from Savanna Woods Music.
Donate now to help vets and their families at www.SCVeteransCenter.org

12/26/2025

Thank you Donna and Charles Cole Charitable Foundation for your generous gift!
We are blessed to have received over $23,000 this month. Because of the Coles and others we will be able to hire someone to continue providing services to veterans and their families in 2026.
Many veterans who are struggling have a hard time connecting to services...and that's the only reason we exist.
There is still time to give a tax-deductible donation in 2025. Go to www.SCVeteransCenter.org to donate, and attend the January 9th Donors and Volunteers Celebration with Savanna Woods Music.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

To build a provider network and coordinate services to improve the mental, physical, social, and financial well-being of veteran families while reducing veteran su***de.

12/18/2025

🎉 There’s still time to help—and celebrate! 🎉

We’re thrilled to announce our Donor & Volunteer Celebration on January 9th at 6 p.m. As a thank‑you for your generosity, everyone who donates before the event will be invited as an honored guest for a night of community and gratitude.
🌟 Enjoy appetizers and drinks and a live performance by Savanna Woods of “The Voice”! It’s our way of saying thank you for believing in our mission.

The Stanwood‑Camano Veterans Museum & Resource Center receives no state of federal funding, so we rely entirely on community support to connect veterans and their families with healthcare, VA benefits, job assistance, and counseling. We’re only at 8% of our $350 K goal, so every dollar helps us close the gap.

Whether it’s $45 a month to connect a veteran to health care and benefits or $240 a month to sponsor counseling, any gift matters. Donate today at www.SCVeteransCenter.org and then send an RSVP to 360-207-4836 or [email protected] to join us on Jan 9th for an unforgettable evening.

Let’s come together to honor those who served—your support changes lives. ❤️🇺🇸

12/13/2025

Looking for businesses that are interested in remodeling the Camano Island American Legion into the new Stanwood-Camano Veterans Museum & Resource Center. Preference is given to veteran-owned, or veteran family member-owned, and local companies.
Please email or call us with questions, requests for walkthroughs, and Good Faith Estimates, as we don't have someone to check Facebook often.
Thanks!

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

As many know, veterans and their families carry visible and invisible wounds from their time of service. What many don’t know is that is difficult, sometimes nearly impossible, for veterans to get connected to Veterans Affairs for benefits, healthcare, and other support.

The new Stanwood-Camano Veterans Museum & Resource Center provides connection to VA benefits and healthcare, job placement, emergency financial assistance, and helps to reduce the high veteran su***de rate. We don’t receive any government funding, and have to rely on community support. For $45 a month you can connect a veteran to VA benefits, healthcare, and peer support. For $240 a month you sponsor counseling for a veteran or family member to help them recover from their service and sacrifice. You can donate monthly by going to our website at www.SCVeteransCenter.org

If you’d rather make a one time donation you can do so through https://www.scgive.org/organization/CamanoIslandAmericanLegion. if you do a one time donation on Giving Tuesday, December 2nd, then your donation may be matched by others. I can contact you for a reminder on December 1st if you would like.

Thank you guys for letting me reach out, and ask for your help…especially on Thanksgiving. Please let me know if I can contact you to answer questions, and explain more about the good work we are doing to serve those who have served and sacrificed for us.

To build a provider network and coordinate services to improve the mental, physical, social, and financial well-being of veteran families while reducing veteran su***de.

11/18/2025

Special thank you to Jamestown Saloon and Heck's Home Care! Jamestown put on a veterans dinner, and collected donations to help fund the new Stanwood-Camano Veterans Museum & Resource Center.
Heck's Home Care, run by Tristan Heckman, a U.S. Army veteran, also pitched in and has decided to donate 8% of all their proceeds to helping fellow veterans and their families at the new Center...Thanks Heck!
Visit Jamestown Saloon for great food, drinks, and poker; and hire Tristan and his crew at Heck's Home Care to not only get great service, but also fund VA benefits, healthcare, and peer support for veterans and their families!

11/06/2025

11/06/2025

Facelift part 1

11/06/2025

Exciting news: Our foundation repair has started...thank you Senator Sen. Ron Muzzall and Representative Dave Paul!
For the next four weeks we will be in the building sporadically. Island County VSO Zack Commet will be there Fridays. Please contact us at 360-207-4836, [email protected] or Zack at 360-632-2496, [email protected], to make an appointment.
Saturday night Bingo and Sunday AA meetings are still a go.
After foundation repairs, the internal and external remodeling follows...great things are happening at the new Stanwood-Camano Veterans Museum & Resource Center!

11/02/2025

The Camano Chili-Chowder Cookoff is this Saturday!
Don't miss this popular annual event...November 8th, 3-7pm at the Camano Center. 20 competitors; beer, cider, and wine tent; and live performance by the Seattle 10-piece band The Chowder Heads.
Veterans, First Responders, and Federal Workers receive a $10 discount at the door ($15 rather than $25).