Brian Sunderland, a four-year Air Force veteran, was going through a rough patch in life.
A fractured pelvis left him with mobility issues, and he was forced to sleep on his front porch, the only area of his state street home he was able to access. With rising summer temperatures and hurricane season coming on, Sunderland, who served during the 1970s, said: “The situation was getting unsafe.”
Fortunately for this veteran, a strong community partnership came in to help. Volunteers from the Osceola Council on Aging and Team Depot volunteer employees from the St. Cloud Home Depot, joined together last week to make the needed repairs and renovations to the veteran’s house.
Materials were provided through the national Home Depot Foundation, which works with local partners like the Council on Aging and company volunteers employees on these types of community projects. The Foundation has helped over 50,000 veterans since 2011.
For the first time, Home Depot’s national representatives were on hand to help with this renovation; the list of repairs and improvements to the house was extensive. Wheelchair ramps were constructed for the front and back entrances, the bathroom was renovated to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act standards, and the air conditioning unit was replaced.
“The Home Depot Foundation and Team Depot ensured that sustainable building materials and energyefficient building practices were intentionally used throughout the repairs. This helps keep utility bills low and enables Brian to now move independently and safely throughout his home” said Wendy Ford, Council on Aging President and one of the hard-working volunteers present on Wednesday. For good measure, the exterior of the house was also repainted, and the landscaping was refreshed.
While the Council on Aging can depend on the local Team Depot volunteers and The Home Depot Foundation for projects to benefit veterans, the Council has to rely on getting materials from local contractors, donations from the community, and volunteers from local civic organizations to complete projects for other residents who need help in Osceola County. The Council is also responsible for the Meals on Wheels program, and The Home Depot Foundation recently announced a $2.3 million grant to Meals on Wheels America that will serve 275 senior veterans across the country.
