Taunton, Mass. — Homes for Our Troops will give renewed meaning to the phrase “home for the holidays” for the third year in a row, when they give away 10 newly constructed, specially adapted homes to severely injured veterans between Veterans Day and Christmas. Construction is already underway on these homes, which will be presented just in time for the holidays.
Homes for the Holidays is a focused initiative to give specially adapted homes to severely injured veterans at the time of year when being at home means the most. To date, Homes for Our Troops has built 168 modified homes, 19 of which were given during previous Homes for the Holidays events. With the support of corporate sponsors and Americans nationwide, homes will be presented this year to veterans in New Hampshire, Tennessee, Ohio, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, California and Oregon.
“As Americans, we enjoy the ongoing gift of freedom because of the sacrifices these selfless service members have made. They deserve to celebrate the holiday season in a home that is comfortable and restores their sense of independence,” said Homes for Our Troops President, retired Major General Timothy McHale. “For these heroes, the gift of a home is the opportunity to begin rebuilding their lives.”
Homes for Our Troops is a national nonprofit organization that is committed to building specially adapted homes for the estimated 1700 service members nationwide who have returned home from Iraq and Afghanistan with life-altering injuries.
Each specially modified home is equipped with more than 155 unique adaptations designed to give veterans mobility, accessibility and independence. Features like one level, open floor plans, widened door and hallways, roll-under sinks and stovetops, roll-in showers and pull-down cabinets make it possible for severely injured veterans to live independently, provide peace of mind for their families and greatly reduce the risk of further injury.
“A new home from Homes for Our Troops is going to be remarkable. It’s going to allow me to do a lot of things… to be a dad and a husband again,” said Marine Cpl Jonathan Schumacher, who will be receiving his California hoe as part of Homes for the Holidays.
Corporal Schumacher, who suffered the traumatic amputations of both legs and left hand during his second deployment in Afghanistan, is one of 10 veterans who will have a happier holiday season thanks to Homes for Our Troops.
“Having people who actually care about us that much is truly inspiring,” said Marine Cpl Carlos Garcia, who lost both his legs in 2010 after an IED blast in Afghanistan. He and his wife Jacki, along with their young daughter, look forward to celebrating the holidays in their new home. “It’s just really heartwarming to know that there are people out there who truly, truly care.”
About Homes for Our Troops (HFOT): HFOT is a privately funded 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization building specially adapted, mortgage-free homes nationwide for the most severely injured Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Most of these Veterans are multiple amputees, paraplegic, quadriplegic or suffered severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). These homes restore some of the freedom and independence our Veterans sacrificed defending ours, and enable them to focus on their family, recovery, and rebuilding their lives. Since its inception in 2004, over 90 percent of donations to Homes for Our Troop has gone to directly support Veterans. www.hfotusa.org