EASR DUMMERSTON, Vt. (AP) - A nonprofit that specializes in helping veterans with post-traumatic stress syndrome and military sexual trauma to heal got some help itself with remodeling residential space used during retreats.
“We wanted the residential space we use for veterans to reflect the energy and outcome we want them to have as part of the experience they have with us,” Aaron Phillips, executive director of The Warrior Connection, told the Reformer. “This has been a project in need for probably the last four years. We’ve been working collaboratively with Home Depot since the fall of last year.”
Phillips had spent several years managing Home Depot stores on the West Coast and approached the Keene, N.H., store about preferred pricing on small repairs. That led to a grant through the Home Depot Foundation.
Home Depot asked employees to help with remodeling and renovation at The Warrior Connection’s property in East Dummerston, which is used for retreats from April through November. Tradespeople were hired and materials were donated through the grant of about $35,000.
In May, volunteers put in flower beds, new flooring and new bedding. They refurbished the deck, renovated the upstairs bathroom and remodeled the kitchen. And the walls received a fresh coat of paint.
It marked Kayla Reed’s first visit to the area. She is head of the electrical department at Home Depot in Williston.
“Our store manager let us know that it was happening and I signed up for it,” she said. “I thought it was pretty cool to do.”
Her brother is in the military and she has a background in emergency medical services. She also likes to volunteer and help people.
Reed assisted with “anything and everything.”
“The work went smoothly,” she said.
Reed hopes to get involved in other projects with TWC. She called the locale “beautiful and quiet.”
“It was just an awesome experience,” she said.
Phillips believes TWC has owned the property since 1993. He said about 60 participants are served annually in the area. He plans to open a secondary location in Pennsylvania soon.
Fundraising is key to his group’s efforts - not only for facilities, but for paying for instructors and programming.
“We do need money to do what we do,” Phillips said. “The most important thing for folks to know is our program works. It changes lives and has a large, positive ripple effect through families and communities. For us to keep doing our work, fundraising is very important.”
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Online: https://bit.ly/2sDen1C
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Information from: Brattleboro Reformer, http://www.reformer.com/
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