Nonprofit organization Homes for Our Troops builds and donates specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post 9/11 veterans, enabling them to rebuild their lives.
Most of these veterans have sustained life-altering injuries including multiple limb amputation. HFOT builds these homes where veterans choose to live and helps them adapt to their new homes.
HFOT has built over 400 specially adapted custom homes with over 65 ongoing projects, said Cheryl Gendron, marketing and communications director for Homes for Our Troops. This includes a 2019 Murfreesboro home for Army Sergeant Bryan Camacho.
Recently, Army SPC William Thomas, originally from Tennessee, chose to have his home built near Murfreesboro. Homes for Our Troops presented him with keys to his new home on Sept. 20.
In his former home, Will was unable to use his wheelchair without scraping the walls in the narrow hallways, and the small kitchen could only accommodate one person, making it impossible for Will and his wife, Shanelle, to prepare meals together.
A specially adapted custom home with a barrier-free environment gave Will the freedom and independence to access every room of the house, particularly the kitchen. He’s looking forward to the open layout, roll-under countertops for the range and sink, and pull-down shelving.
“Having an accessible kitchen will help with my daily routine,” he said. “I will have room to maneuver and not have to wait for Shanelle to walk out of the kitchen so I can fit with my wheelchair.”
A hardworking team of community volunteers completed work on the Rutherford County home of Army SPC William Thomas on a particularly rainy September weekend.
Handing over the keys to a new, specially adapted custom home is one of the most powerful moments in the Homes for Our Troops mission, said HFOT President/CEO Brigadier General (USA, Ret.) Tom Landwermeyer.
“It’s about thanking them for their sacrifice, restoring freedom, empowering independence, and showing our veterans that they are never alone in the journey,” Landwermeyer said.
For information on how to support the HFOT mission, visit hfotusa.org/get-involved/support_our_mission.
