Install interior wheel chair ramp - 2008

LCPL. Tracy Swearingen was severly injured while on active duty and was medically discharged.  He had great difficulty entering his home since he was in a wheel chair.  We evaluated his home and constructed an interior wheel chair ramp in his garage to provide easy access to his kitchen.
               
              Kitchen access before                                  Kitchen access after                                Tracy with family                           

Grab bar installation - 2008

Specialist Gentry was diagnosed with Parkinsons and medically discharged from the Army.  She was having difficulty bathing and requested grab bars to assist her.

                    
              Volunteer Dick Scharf checks grab bar placement                  Specialist Gentry inspects her new grab bars

Renovation of Shepherd Place - 2010

Several years ago Shepherd Center acquired an older apartment building and wanted to renovate to accommodate veterans and their families as they completed their rehab in the hospital and began the process of learning how to live independently with their disability.

Vets Help Vets saw this project as an opportunity to make a significant contribution toward our wounded warriors.  We raised over $50,000 for material and supplies and worked for one year to renovate each of the twelve apartments.

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                                          Kitchen before                                              After with custom counter and backsplash

                      
                                         Living room before                                       After paint, floor, blinds and new furniture

                          
                          Raised garden box with protective fence                   Construction volunteers; Charnley, Read, Pollner

Construct exterior wheelchair ramp - 2011

Lt. Col Aliffi complained of severe headaches while serving in Iraq and was evacuated for medical treatment. At Walter Reed he was diagnosed with brain cancer and could no longer walk up steps. We received a call from the Dept. of Army requesting assistance for Lt. Col Aliffi. We met with him and his wife and agreed upon a design. Volunteers worked for three full days to complete the project. A donation from employees of Kimberly-Clark honoring the retirement of one of our volunteers, Brad Herren covered the cost of this project.

 

                          
                  Lt. Col. Jim Aliffi                               Installing new entrance                                       Post for railing  

Outside pavilion for Shepherd Place - 2011

With the renovation complete the residents of Shepherd Place needed a place to entertain their friends outside rather than sitting in the parking lot.

              
                Visiting in the parking lot                        Harry Charnley and crew                       Pavilion with ceiling fan

SSGT Lister Home Renovation Project -  June 2012

SSGT Lister injuries required several modifications to his new home.  These modifications were accomplished while he and his family were on a complimentary Disney cruise.  Our volunteers worked thru the Memorial Day holiday and the renovations were finished when they returned home.

      
      Handrail system throughout home                     New accessible bathroom                                 Roll-in shower floor

        
                                New shower                                                                            SSGT Danny Lister and family



                                                            Vets Help Vets volunteers who worked on this project

SGT Maximo Martinez - July 2012

SGT Maximo Martinez was severely injured when the Stryker vehicle he was driving hit an IED.  Both feet were severly damaged and his new home required new comfort level toilets, grab bars and an extensive to his upstairs handrail.  SGT Martinez was a roomate of SSGT Lister at Walter Reed and they are now neighbors.




                                                              SGT Maximo Martinez and his wife, Melissa