Motorcycle run honors wounded warriors

Motorcycle run honors wounded warriors
By Susan DeMar Lafferty
August 27, 2012

Riders honor veterans during the 4th Annual Wounded Warriors motorcycle run to get underway at Pipefitters Local 597 Training Center in Mokena, IL on Sunday August 25, 2012.
Matt Marton~Sun-Times Media

Sunday’s rain may have dampened the numbers of motorcycle riders but not their enthusiasm as they gathered for the 4th Annual Wounded Warrior Motorcycle Run at the Local 597 Pipefitters Training Center on 187th Street in Mokena.

Organizer Mike Cozzi, of the Illinois Veterans Foundation, was hoping for 2,000 riders — to surpass last year’s total of 1,800 — but about 500 registered for the 30-mile run to Wilmington. Many more were expected to join the party at the end of the ride at the Operating Engineers Local 150 union hall.

“This is such a great event. The people here are true patriots. It’s raining, and they’re still here,” Tina Hauptman, of West Chicago, a volunteer with the Illinois Veterans Foundation said. “This is my passion. I volunteer to give back to the Americans who fought so hard for us.”

Before the kickstands went up on the bikes, the IVF honored 11 wounded warriors from Illinois, including Army veteran Brian Wilhelm, of New Lenox, who lost a leg in Iraq, and Sgt. Brian Poplin, of Mokena, represented by his wife because he is still serving with the National Guard, despite an 80 percent disability.

The IVF presented each one with a $1,000 check and has partnered with Home Depot of Chicago Ridge to modify their homes as needed.
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Home Depot Foundation helps even more homeless veterans

The Home Depot Foundation Awards Swords to Plowshares $545,540 to Rehab Housing for Homeless Veterans
PRWeb

Grant Supports Unprecedented Permanent Supportive Housing Projects

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) August 02, 2012

Swords to Plowshares, a San Francisco-based veteran service agency, is one of many community-based organizations nationwide to receive a grant from The Home Depot Foundation to repair and rehab properties serving veterans and their families.

“We are thrilled to have the support of The Home Depot Foundation to help us provide safe, adequate and affordable housing to homeless veterans and their families,” said Michael Blecker, Executive Director of Swords to Plowshares and Vietnam veteran.

“Corporate donors like The Home Depot Foundation, who have given generously to support veterans and their families, enable us to fulfill our mission and bring the nation closer to our goal of eliminating veteran homelessness.”

The grant supports rehab costs for two unique and much-needed housing facilities in San Francisco. One housing site, which opened January 2012, provides affordable 2-bedroom apartments to twelve formerly homeless veteran families. The second housing site, which will be ready for occupancy in late October 2012, is an unprecedented collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the City of San Francisco, Chinatown Community Development Corporation and Swords to Plowshares. The landmark building, currently under renovation, was donated by the City of San Francisco and will consist of 75 studio apartments for chronically homeless veterans with disabilities.
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Home Depot makes better home for DAV Orlando

Home Depot, Celebration of Service, returned to Chapter 16, Orlando Disabled American Veterans to finish the repairs to the building.

A new roof, paint, landscaping, widows, air conditioners, and the list goes on but one of the best changes was putting in a wider doorway into the meeting hall so that wheelchairs could get through without a struggle. Considering we have two triple amputees from the Vietnam War, it was a blessing.

As a matter of fact, Home Depot's crew was a blessing because there is no way we could have afforded to do any of what they did for us.

Home Depot Foundation doing more for veterans

Volunteers of America gets grant to help homeless veterans
Jun 22, 2012

Troops wait for President Barack Obama to speak to them at the Third Infantry Division Headquarters, Friday, April 27, 2012, Fort Stewart, Ga. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) / AP

Written by
The Courier-Journal

The Home Depot Foundation has awarded a $77,741 grant to Volunteers of America of Kentucky to help address the housing needs of Louisville-area military veterans.

The grant will be used to support transitional housing for homeless veterans at the agency’s campus at 1432 S. Shelby St. Among the improvements to be funded with the grant money is the replacement of 42 windows, many of which are in disrepair and not energy-efficient, agency officials said.

The funding follows a grant for $67,720 in October 2011 and $2,500 worth of gift cards in December 2011 from The Home Depot Foundation for other work at the campus.
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THE CHALLENGES
Statistics show that many veterans face severe housing needs sometimes because of a disability from combat injuries or because they’ve been particularly hard hit by the economy and sometimes because they simply can’t find affordable housing.

An aging population: 9 million veterans are senior citizens, many of whom live on fixed incomes
Disabilities:
From 2001-2008, the number of disabled veterans increased 25 percent to 2.9 million.
Low Incomes:
More than 4.3 million veterans have a combined family income of under $20,000.
Homelessness:
Statistics show that veterans are twice as likely to be homeless than those who haven’t served.
Veterans represent 8% of the general population, yet they form 16% of the homeless population.

THE OPPORTUNITIES
The skills learned in the Armed Forces are often directly applicable in the workplace, making veterans highly educated and trained employees for businesses. We know that firsthand — more than 35,000 of The Home Depot’s associates are veterans.

Leadership & Work Ethic:
Proven leadership skills, honed in the most challenging operational environments.
Top Skills:
92% of active duty military in the United States use computers at their places of duty and 40% of military personnel have job assignments that involve information resource management; 60% of the enlisted personnel can program in at least one computer language.
Education Level:
Almost 33% of young veterans have an associate or bachelor’s degree, compared to 27% of young non-veterans.

Home Depot Foundation

UPDATE This is what they did last year.

By Joe Ruble ORLANDO, Fla. — A non-profit agency that serves 15,000 veterans in Central Florida with an annual budget of $16,000 had to make a tough decision. Were they to spend their funds entirely on the needs of homeless and other veterans or finally start a badly needed renovation project in the building they have called home for 49 years? "It was coming down to hard decisions," said Brad Bouters, commander of DAV Chapter 16 in Orlando.

Then another non-profit stepped in and with the help of The Home Depot Foundation were able to pull off the repair job. The Mission Continues organized over 100 volunteers who showed up at 2040 W. Central Avenue on Tuesday morning to turn it into a new place of work.

The DAV office there is normally open two days a week for paperwork, while the rest of the time veterans are working in the field with homeless veterans, Bouters explained. Not one DAV volunteer gets paid.

"It's just veterans giving back," he said.

read more here

And then they came out last week and did even more.

Disabled veteran gets first look at volunteers’ work on Duluth home

Disabled veteran gets first look at volunteers’ work on Duluth home (with video)
Sitting in his new motorized scooter Saturday, Warren Scott St. John rolled outside onto his home’s new access ramp and for the first time was able to see the work dozens of volunteers have done on his behalf the past few days.
By: News Tribune staff,

Sitting in his new motorized scooter Saturday, Warren Scott St. John rolled outside onto his home’s new access ramp and for the first time was able to see the work dozens of volunteers have done on his behalf the past few days.

The ramp wasn’t quite finished, and St. John still was getting used to operating his new ride, but there was no doubt that the improvements will be life-changing for the disabled Vietnam War veteran and his family.
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Home Depot volunteers fix up shelter for homeless veterans

San Jose: Home Depot volunteers fix up shelter for homeless veterans

By Lisa Fernandez
10/12/2011

Dozens of volunteers decked out in orange T-shirts spent their day off Wednesday painting, sanding and even laying down faux wood for a new deck at a San Jose shelter for homeless veterans.

The effort is part of an unprecedented, national campaign in memory of the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, to honor veterans, according to representatives from The Home Depot, its foundation and a nonprofit called The Mission Continues.

From Sept. 11 to Nov. 11 -- Veteran's Day -- Home Depot volunteers will enhance the living facilities of veterans at 200 sites, spending about $9 million during that time on supplies, according to the organizers.

There are about 30,000 homeless veterans in California, according to U.S. Veterans Affairs.
On Wednesday, the apartment units housing about 20 veterans at EHC LifeBuilders Boccardo Regional Reception Center on Little Orchard Street south of downtown were the object of this revitalization.

About 85 Home Depot volunteers painted outside railings, sanded old benches and installed a brand new outdoor patio.

"It's really cool to see these transitions happening," said Wendy Weeks, spokeswoman for The Home Depot Foundation, who added that this project cost $12,500 in materials.
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Home Depot Celebration of Service at Marietta GA VFW

Veterans helping veterans: 'This is personal'
6:55 AM, Oct 5, 2011
Written by
Matt Pearl

MARIETTA, Ga. -- Of the 200+ Home Depot volunteers who came to fix up a VFW post in Marietta, nearly two dozen were veterans themselves.

Last month, the Atlanta-based home improvement retailer began its Celebration of Service, a two-month collection of community service projects designed to help veterans. They kicked the efforts off locally by renovating VFW Post 2681 in Marietta.

What made the event special were the handful of veterans who came out to work to help other veterans.

"This is personal, this is professional, and this is a tremendous opportunity," said one such veteran, Oregon Emerson III.

read more here

Home Depot Celebration of Service gives 1.5 million more for veterans

The Home Depot Foundation Announces $1.5 Million in New Grants to Nonprofits Serving Veterans
Fourth of Weekly Grant Announcements Totaling $9 Million Being Announced from September 11 - Veterans Day

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) Atlanta, GA - October 3, 2011 - As part of its “Celebration of Service” initiative to honor U.S. military veterans, The Home Depot® Foundation today announced $1.55 million in grants to nonprofits dedicated to addressing the critical housing needs of U.S. military veterans. Today’s grant recipients assist more than 8,000 veterans on an annual basis with housing and other supportive services. Volunteers of America (VOA) is receiving a grant to fund programs at 11 locations nationwide; and Veterans’ Homestead and Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative are receiving funding to serve veterans in Massachusetts and throughout the New England area. In addition to receiving funding, each nonprofit will also be supported by Team Depot, the Company’s associate-led volunteer force.

Each Monday between September 11 and Veterans Day (November 11), The Home Depot Foundation is announcing approximately $1 million in grants to veterans’ initiatives for a total of $9.1 million. Grants announced during “Celebration of Service” are part of The Home Depot Foundation’s commitment of $30 million over three years to veterans’ housing needs. Learn more about the grants announced thus far.

“The Home Depot Foundation is committed to ensuring that every veteran has a safe place to call home, and the high quality services provided by nonprofits are essential to fulfilling that goal,” said Kelly Caffarelli, president, The Home Depot Foundation. “We are extremely impressed with the ability of VOA, Veterans’ Homestead and Affordable Housing Services to change and improve the lives of those who have served our country, and we hope that our funding and volunteer assistance will allow them to assist more veterans and their families every year.”
Volunteers of America, $750,000, Locations Nationwide
Volunteers of America Florida, $250,000
Veterans’ Homestead, Inc., $300,000, New England Area and Puerto Rico
The Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative, $250,000 Boston, MA
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“Celebration of Service” initiative to honor U.S. military veterans

As Chaplain of the Orlando DAV Auxiliary, I can tell you that this group should have a lot more attention. After all, our Chapter was one of the projects Home Depot took on with Mission Continues. Now they are helping out even more.

When it comes to a real "welcome home" to our veterans, Home Depot has been making sure their homes are better than what they are able to do for themselves.

U.S.VETS & The Home Depot Foundation Announce 2012 Veteran Housing Rehabilitation Project
UNITED STATES VETERANS INITIATIVE AND THE HOME DEPOT FOUNDATION ANNOUNCE 2012 VETERAN HOUSING REHABILITATION PROJECT FOR HOMELESS AND LOW-INCOME VETERANS

Creating Transitional and Permanent Housing for 160 Veterans and Veteran Families in St. Louis and Washington, D.C.

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 19, 2011 — The United States Veterans Initiative (U.S.VETS) and The Home Depot® Foundation today announced the 2012 Veteran Housing Rehabilitation project to expand housing for homeless and low-income veterans in the District of Columbia and St. Louis, Missouri. As part of its “Celebration of Service” initiative to honor U.S. military veterans, The Home Depot® Foundation has awarded U.S.VETS $400,000 to support the launch of its newest site in St. Louis and increase the capacity of its location in the Nation’s capital.

Funding from The Home Depot Foundation will enable U.S.VETS to expand its presence and provide programs and services to twice as many veterans in the D.C. area, while also replicating many of its most successful programs for a new population of veterans in St. Louis. These services include residential and reintegration programs for disabled veterans; education, employment and preventative mental health services for recently returned Iraq and Afghanistan veterans; as well as focused and specific services for women veterans.

“A new generation of men and women are coming home from service to fight another battle – the transition back to civilian life,” said Stephen Peck, President and CEO of U.S.VETS. “They join thousands of veterans from previous wars in their struggles with homelessness, unemployment, and mental trauma. We are grateful to have the support of The Home Depot Foundation and this opportunity to expand our services and presence in the places where veterans’ needs are also growing.”
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3 Doors down, Home Depot Mission Continues

3 DOORS DOWN’S CHRIS HENDERSON DISCUSSES CHARITY, MUSICALITY AND LONGEVITY
by: Anne Erickson Yesterday

Universal Republic

It’s fitting the gents of 3 Doors Down are involved in the recent efforts of the Home Depot Foundation and the Mission Continues to help rebuild the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Medical Center, a place for homeless veterans recovering from substance abuse, mental illness and post-traumatic stress disorder. After all, the Mississippi band are long known for their dedication to the troops and their extensive charity work through their own Better Life Foundation.

“We feel like the troops give up so much, and their families give up everything, sometimes even their lives,” guitarist Chris Henderson tells Loudwire in an exclusive interview. “They’re not really doing it for the money, either. When they come back, they need our support and they need America’s support. We feel it’s our duty. The least we can do is give back.”
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Home Depot Foundation Announce 2012 Veteran Housing Rehabilitation Project

Sept. 19, 2011, 12:45 p.m. EDT
U.S.VETS and the Home Depot Foundation Announce 2012 Veteran Housing Rehabilitation Project for Homeless and Low-Income Veterans

Creating Transitional and Permanent Housing for 170 Veterans and Veteran Families in St. Louis and Washington, D.C.

LOS ANGELES, Sep 19, 2011 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- The United States Veterans Initiative (U.S.VETS) and The Home Depot(R) Foundation today announced the 2012 Veteran Housing Rehabilitation project to expand housing for homeless and low-income veterans in the District of Columbia and St. Louis, Missouri. As part of its "Celebration of Service" initiative to honor U.S. military veterans, The Home Depot(R) Foundation has awarded U.S.VETS $400,000 to support the launch of its newest site in St. Louis and increase the capacity of its location in the Nation's capital.

Funding from The Home Depot Foundation will enable U.S.VETS to expand its presence and provide programs and services to twice as many veterans in the D.C. area, while also replicating many of its most successful programs for a new population of veterans in St. Louis. These services include residential and reintegration programs for disabled veterans; education, employment and preventative mental health services for recently returned Iraq and Afghanistan veterans; as well as focused and specific services for women veterans.

"A new generation of men and women are coming home from service to fight another battle -- the transition back to civilian life," said Stephen Peck, President and CEO of U.S.VETS. "They join thousands of veterans from previous wars in their struggles with homelessness, unemployment, and mental trauma. We are grateful to have the support of The Home Depot Foundation and this opportunity to expand our services and presence in the places where veterans' needs are also growing."



They are doing it right here in Orlando too!
Home Depot Mission Continues at DAV

If you are a veteran support Home Depot because they support you!

Home Depot's Mission Continues at DAV in Orlando

UPDATE
Here's the video I promised the other day



This is one of those stories you don't often hear about. This is about the DAV I belong to and I have to tell you that you'd have a hard time meeting a more dedicated group of veterans and auxiliary members. I am Chaplain of the Auxiliary and all of them have my heart.

When news came out that Home Depot had selected the DAV to be one of the 24 projects to be done across the nation it was as if they just delivered a miracle. All the money we raise goes to veterans so having to spend money on the building for our sake didn't seem right. It was very hard just talking about the new roof the building needed while we put up with the leaks just like the rest of the repairs that needed to be done.

That's the biggest problem when a group does things for others instead of for profit. Often, most of the time, you'll find them working more hours than people working for paychecks and when they're home, they are still at it, reading reports, emailing and planning what else they can do to be of service. Without focusing on their own needs, sooner or later, things get old and worn out but there never seems to be enough money or time to fix any of it. Do they stop doing what their "mission" is to take care of themselves or do they pray to God someone finally helps them?

God answered our prayers and about 100 volunteers showed up to be His hands.

Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011
Veterans and volunteers fix up Orlando DAV Center
Effort allows DAV to maintain services
By Joe Ruble

Joe Ruble
Over 100 volunteers from The Home Depot and The Mission Continues repair Chapter 16 of the Disabled American Veterans in Orlando. Sept 13, 2011

ORLANDO, Fla. — A non-profit agency that serves 15,000 veterans in Central Florida with an annual budget of $16,000 had to make a tough decision. Were they to spend their funds entirely on the needs of homeless and other veterans or finally start a badly needed renovation project in the building they have called home for 49 years?

"It was coming down to hard decisions," said Brad Bouters, commander of DAV Chapter 16 in Orlando.

Then another non-profit stepped in and with the help of The Home Depot Foundation were able to pull off the repair job. The Mission Continues organized over 100 volunteers who showed up at 2040 W. Central Avenue on Tuesday morning to turn it into a new place of work.

The DAV office there is normally open two days a week for paperwork, while the rest of the time veterans are working in the field with homeless veterans, Bouters explained. Not one DAV volunteer gets paid.

"It's just veterans giving back," he said.
read more here

The video on this is coming soon. I went out and filmed it.

3 Doors Down Team Up With Home Depot to Help Homeless Veterans

3 Doors Down Team Up With Home Depot to Help Homeless Veterans
Posted on Aug 26th 2011 11:00AM by Carlos Ramirez

Michael Kovac, Getty Images

3 Doors Down have built their career on the back of an endless parade of melodic rock radio hits. But it's their tireless work with the US Military that has made them the go-to band for the Armed Forces these past few years. "It's the least we can do for these troops and we'll always find time to play for them if it lifts their spirits," 3 Doors Down guitarist Matt Roberts tells Noisecreep. We're in West Los Angeles with Roberts and his bandmates where they're volunteering for their latest passion project.

The band is here with The Home Depot Foundation, The Mission Continues and local volunteers, to refurbish the exterior grounds of New Directions, a nonprofit organization, which runs a residential program on the campus of the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Medical Center.

New Directions provides an array of services for homeless veterans recovering from "Invisible illnesses" including substance abuse, mental illness and post-traumatic stress disorder.

read more here