PUEBLO, CO — Sangre de Cristo Community Care has once again achieved the prestigious Level 5 We Honor Veterans (WHV) distinction, the highest recognition awarded by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The renewal marks Sangre’s ongoing commitment to providing specialized end-of-life care for veterans across Southern Colorado.
Level 5 status represents the pinnacle of achievement within the national We Honor Veterans program. Only organizations that demonstrate exceptional dedication to veteran-focused education, outreach, and care delivery receive this honor. According to WHV, Level 5 partners must not only maintain rigorous standards but continually expand their efforts to meet the unique needs of veterans and their families.
“This Level 5 renewal represents the heart of Sangre de Cristo Community Care,” Melinda Egging, CEO of Sangre de Cristo Community Care said. “We serve communities with deep military roots, and we take seriously our responsibility to honor those who have served.”
Sangre de Cristo Community Care serves a region with one of the highest per-capita veteran populations in the state. Over the past year, Sangre has continued to deepen its veteran outreach efforts across Pueblo, Otero, Fremont, and surrounding counties.
Throughout the year, Sangre has hosted monthly Veterans Coffee Talks in Pueblo, La Junta, and Cañon City, providing a comfortable space for veterans to connect, share experiences, and access resources. These gatherings have become a cornerstone of the organization’s veteran programming.
Kera Gutierrez, Volunteer Coordinator in Pueblo, said her goal is to expand outreach and continue to bring comfort and connection to our veterans and their families.
“Working with the veterans is one of the greatest honors of my life,” Gutierrez, who is also a military spouse and granddaughter of a Vietnam Veteran, said. “Honoring our veterans is more than a gesture, it’s a promise. A promise to recognize their service, remember their sacrifices and ensure they always feel the gratitude and respect they deserve.”
In La Junta, Sangre continues its tradition of bi-annual Quilt of Valor ceremonies, honoring veterans with handmade quilts crafted as symbols of gratitude for their service. These events regularly bring together community members, volunteers and veterans of all ages to celebrate military service and sacrifice. The most recent event, the Veterans Day Quilt of Valor Lunch, brought 165 people together to honor 11 veterans.
“Events like our Quilts of Valor luncheon remind us why this work matters—because every veteran carries a story of courage, sacrifice, and service that deserves to be recognized,” Deede Lowry, Volunteer Coordinator in La Junta said. “We are grateful for the support Sangre de Cristo Community Care provides to make meaningful moments like this possible.”
One of the year’s most impactful outreach efforts took place last Monday in Pueblo at the Veterans Stand Down, where Sangre donated more than 60 pounds of clothing and essential supplies to veterans in need.
Zeke Arriaga, account manager, represented Sangre at the event, distributed items and shared information about veteran services. Nearly all the supplies Sangre provided were gone within the first hour, highlighting both the level of need and Sangre’s commitment to showing up for the community.
“The veteran community worked together in helping one another find resources and supplies,” Arriaga said. “Our donation boxes helped so many in need. I’m proud to have a small but mighty impact serving our veteran community on behalf of Sangre.”
The renewal of Level 5 status underscores Sangre de Cristo Community Care’s longstanding dedication to honoring veterans with dignity, compassion, and specialized attention—whether through bedside support, community events, or volunteer-driven programs.
“Achieving the highest level in the We Honor Veterans program continues to guide and challenge us to grow, to listen,” Lowry said. “To walk alongside our hometown heroes with the respect and gratitude they deserve.”
Sangre de Cristo Community Care also maintains a robust Vet-to-Vet volunteer program, pairing veteran volunteers with veteran hospice patients. This connection—rooted in shared experiences and military culture—offers comfort and camaraderie that other forms of support simply cannot replicate.
Veterans who are interested in serving their fellow veterans through Sangre’s Vet-to-Vet volunteer program are encouraged to call 719-542-0032 for more information.
About Sangre de Cristo Community Care
Founded in 1985, Sangre de Cristo Community Care is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing proven compassionate care to patients and families during rehabilitation, chronic and serious illness. Serving a 22,000-square-mile region across Southern Colorado — including Pueblo, Cañon City, Trinidad, Walsenburg, La Junta, and surrounding rural communities — through hospice, palliative care, home health, dementia care, and bereavement services.
Sangre is also home to the Joni Fair Hospice House, the only inpatient hospice facility in Pueblo and the regions we serve, offering 24/7 comfort-focused care for patients and families. As a Level 5 We Honor Veterans partner, Sangre is committed to honoring and supporting veterans at every stage of care.
For 40 years, Sangre de Cristo Community Care has remained anchored in compassion, hope, and dignity — ensuring no one walks life’s hardest journeys alone. Learn more at www.sangre.org.
Contact:
Stephanie Ivankovich-Shy
719-281-1887
Stephanie.ivankovich@sangre.org
