Meals on Wheels America has announced that the Chatham Council on Aging will receive a second grant to continue its work to assist older veterans with home modification and repair needs.
The COA is one of only eight local aging service agencies across the nation to be selected for the Helping Homebound Heroes project, which is funded by The Home Depot Foundation as part of its mission to improve the homes and lives of our nation’s veterans.
COA was earlier awarded a grant of $85,000; the new grant, for $100,000, will allow the agency to continue to assist veterans needing repair assistance.
“We had great success this past summer and fall assisting 18 veteran households through the Helping Homebound Heroes project, and we welcome the opportunity to further help our county’s older veterans remain living safely at home,” said Dennis Streets, director of the Council on Aging. “We sincerely appreciate The Home Depot Foundation and Meals on Wheels America for making this possible.”
Chatham County’s Helping Homebound Heroes project is a joint endeavor among various organizations. The construction work is led by Rebuilding Together of the Triangle.
The County’s Veterans Services Officer and Register of Deeds both have been instrumental, along with others, in identifying veterans who need assistance.
In addition to the home modification and repair work, the Council on Aging has also offered participating veterans other services such as delivery of Meals on Wheels, loaning of assistive equipment and transportation to grocery shopping and medical appointments.
These responses from the veterans, themselves, clearly demonstrate the value of this project.
From a local Korean War Army veteran who had fallen on his uneven brick steps: “The work team came in and went about their business (in repairing my home and steps). I couldn’t have asked for a better job. Thank you so much for doing all of this.”
The Rebuilding Together of the Triangle team also repaired the veteran’s kitchen cabinet, added a door threshold and made some minor electrical and plumbing repairs.
From the spouse of a Navy veteran dealing with a serious health condition: “They did an absolutely incredible job in a short period of time. I can’t say enough about how blessed we are for their work.”
Rebuilding Together repaired the couple’s stairs and deck railings and installed one of the biggest ramps they have ever placed on a property.
From husband and wife: “We wholeheartedly say ‘thank you’ for connecting us with Rebuilding Together for the Homebound (Heroes) program. They did wonderful work. Not only does it look beautiful, we both feel 100% safer.”
For a Marine veteran, Rebuilding Together repaired steps and constructed a sidewalk over rough terrain.
In completing the 18 projects, Rebuilding Together of the Triangle addressed a wide array of problems that included repair of flooring, roofs, siding, plumbing, electric, storm doors, railings and gutters; installation of walk-in showers, toilets, a kitchen range, insulation, vapor barriers HVAC system and ramps; and much more.
To learn more about the Helping Homebound Heroes initiative and to apply for assistance, contact either of the following individuals:
• Wynne Fields, Chatham County Council on Aging, 919-542-4512, wynne.fields@chathamcoa.org
• David Kennedy, Chatham County Veterans Service Officer, David.Kennedy@chathamcountync.gov
For further information about the work of the Chatham County Council on Aging, visit www.chathamcoa.org.