Elks, AMVETS Join for Veterans Dinner
Pocatello's Elks Lodge and AMVETS Post hosted a Veterans Day dinner where guests could pay to support veteran causes.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Philanthropy
Veterans received a free lasagna dinner hosted by the Pocatello Elks Lodge and AMVETS Post on a Wednesday evening in the week of November 12, 2026. Guests could pay to support veteran causes, with funds going to veteran support efforts.
Why it matters
The dinner reflects a joint effort between two veteran-focused organizations that formed a shared committee to pool volunteer work for veterans in Pocatello. The collaboration grew from observed overlap between AMVETS and Elks members.
The Army-Navy football game watch party last year raised over $700 for the Idaho Honor Flight, the most recent fundraising total reported by the committee. The amount raised at this week's Veterans Day dinner has not been disclosed.
The players
Pocatello Elks Lodge
The local lodge of the Elks, a national fraternal service organization that supports community and charitable causes.
AMVETS Post, Pocatello
A local chapter of AMVETS, a national veterans service organization founded after World War II to advocate for and assist veterans.
The details
The Pocatello Elks Lodge and AMVETS Post formed the Pocatello Elks-AMVETS Joint Veterans Committee after Lance Kolbet proposed bringing the two groups' committees together. The joint committee has met for almost a year and shares volunteer work supporting veterans, with funds from its events going to veteran causes.
Timeline
Joint committee began meeting almost one year before November 2026.
Army-Navy watch party raised over $700 for Idaho Honor Flight in 2025.
Veterans Day dinner held on a Wednesday evening in the week of November 12, 2026.
Army-Navy football game watch party scheduled for December 12, 2026.
Market Landscape
The Pocatello joint committee reflects a pattern in which local veteran and fraternal chapters pool volunteers and fundraising to sustain support for veterans. It positions these groups to compete for the same donor and volunteer base in a small community.
Residents who want to support veterans in Pocatello can attend the Army-Navy football game watch party on December 12, 2026, where funds go to veteran causes. Last year's event raised over $700 for the Idaho Honor Flight.
The takeaway
Local veteran groups that combine volunteer networks can sustain steady support for veterans with modest, recurring events. Readers interested in supporting veterans can look for the next joint committee fundraiser to contribute directly.
What happens next
The joint committee's Army-Navy football game watch party is scheduled for December 12, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more Philanthropy coverage to see how local groups in Pocatello raise funds for community causes.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KPVI.
