VETERANS DAY DONORS GIVE ENOUGH TO REHAB THREE VETERANS’ HOMES
ChoiceOne Bank volunteers working on a veteran’s yard in May 2019.
On Veterans Day, the Volunteer Center raised $1,500, triple its $500 goal. The contributions will be enough to cover the cost of three service projects at the homes of local veterans during Operation United.
“When I looked at the results last night, my first reaction was, ‘Um, what? This is amazing!’” said Volunteer Center Manager Katelyn Kovalik, who organized the fundraiser. “We are absolutely blown away by this response.”
Click to see WOOD TV’s coverage of the Operation United project at WWII-veteran George Burr’s home.
The money will be used to cover the costs of home improvement projects during Operation United in May 2020. A new event as of this year, Operation United sends teams of volunteers to the homes of local veterans and current service members to tackle projects ranging from yardwork to light construction.
Operation United 2019 drew 318 volunteers who mulched flower beds, cleared debris, power-washed houses, and built ramps at 23 homes in Kent County.
While community-wide events like this usually take several years to build support, Operation United received a warm welcome right away, both from volunteers and sponsors and from those who wanted to nominate loved ones who had served. As a result, more veterans applied or were nominated for projects than the Volunteer Center could serve.
“These gifts will allow us to take veterans off the waitlist,” Kovalik said. “We know that veterans often struggle to ask for help, so for me, that’s all the more reason to make sure we take care of those who served.”
The $1,500 came from nine different donors. Nearly all of them gave in honor or memory of a loved one:
Veterans Day Donors
Anonymous
Kathy Crosby, in honor of Edwin Lamberton
Maribeth Groen, in honor of Joseph Perreault and in memory of Douglas Racine
Stephanie Nagel, in memory of Robert Hughes
Jack Puricelli, in memory of Rudolph Puricelli
Danielle Simmons, in memory of Lewis McAlister
Michelle Van Dyke, in memory of Martin VanValkenburg
Marcia Van Popering, in honor of Arnold Toering
John Vigna
The Volunteer Center is still accepting donations for Operation United. Donors can give online via Mobile Cause.
If you would like to learn more about Operation United or nominate a loved one for a service project, visit hwmuw.org/operationunited.