2 0 2 0 W I N T E R E D I T I O N C O N N E C T I O N S [ page 4 ] Impacting Lives During COVID-19 [ page 5 & 6 ] BUILDING COMMUNITY & What We've Been Up To [ page 3 ] THE POWER OF VOLUNTEERS Chapters in Action W E ' R E I M P R O V I N G V E T E R A N S ' L I V E S O N E H O M E A T A T I M E . CO-FOUNDER'S CORNER John Gallina Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder 755 Washington Avenue Statesville, NC 28677 www.phhusa.org | 704-838-4044 Together we have had some amazing accomplish- ments this year. We have sent our second tiny home to another deserving veteran in South JOHN GALLINA Carolina, where the Purple Heart Homes Golden Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder Corner Chapter team has diligently worked to DALE BEATTY complete the site work and finishes on the home. Co-Founder (1978-2018) This work is monumental and without everyone’s support and efforts the results would not be pos- TIM PARKER sible. Together we have and will continue to Chief Operations Officer change lives. TIM MANGUM This year alone the Purple Heart Homes team has helped over 150 Veterans and Chief Administrative Officer their families. At the time of this writing, our total number of Veterans served is CHAPTERS : 711 and counting. A huge shout out to all the supporters, volunteers, donors, BRAD BORDERS foundations, partners, and chapter members who have made this work possible. Vice President of Community Outreach THE POWER OF VOLUNTEERS struggle to leave your home, then you may feel frustrated, From helping the homeless, to making it possible for the elderly to stay in their constrained or even like a prisoner in your own home. BOARD MEMBERS home when accessibility becomes an issue, you have been there. For me this is with CINDY THOMPSON Honestly, a lot of us have probably never stopped to think CHARLIE EADIE (Chairman), RYAN REPP, what it means to be an American: being there when it counts, and being there in Director of Chapter Development about that, simply because for most of us, it has never ROBERT BAÑUELOS, KEITH HOTCHKISS, someone else’s time of need when they can’t make it on their own. been an issue. LIZ PARADISE, VICTORIA SCHWEIZER (Vice Being an American is not just about where we live or what we do, and it’s not really Chairman), DARRIN SIROIS, SHERRY YASKIN, We love when local communities come together to serve As a result of surviving an explosion in Vietnam, Jim has even about where we are born. To me it’s about the ideals of a more perfect union. JESSICA MILLMAN, & ESTEBAN MCMAHAN one of their own! In fact, that is what our Purple Heart calf, knee, and thigh injures that require him to walk with a A nation and community where we support and encourage our neighbors; where Homes (PHH) Chapters are all about; local PHH Chapter cane. Additionally, he struggles with vertigo and has fallen the weak are lifted up and our elders are revered. It often seems as though we are volunteers serving a neighbor Veteran. But you know down his front steps while trying to go outside. Marty also in a time of selfishness and conceit. Yet, every day I am witness to the goodness in what kicks it up a notch? When our Chapter representatives has bad knees and struggles to navigate stairs. Their front America and to the love that American’s have for not just one another, but also our serve as force multipliers and rally other organizations steps were a barrier that they had to overcome every time nation. in their community to come alongside of them to help they wanted to enter or exit their home. a Veteran. Over the last several months we have completed more projects than ever before. This is obviously not due to the global pandemic. In fact, the work has become Now that barrier is gone. In one day, the PHH West Mich- Available now on In fact, that is exactly what our PHH West Michigan igan Chapter came together with 19 Rolling Thunder volun- much more difficult. The fact is, that while society is slowing down, many needs Chapter did. www.phhusa.org have increased. The need for emotional and moral support, a warm bed, a wheel- teers to build a Dale Beatty Memorial Ramp. chair ramp, and heat are all on the rise. and Amazon! ‘Teamwork makes the dreamwork’ is the catchphrase of What a wonderful thing it is to give the gift of freely en- Doug Pickel, from our PHH West Michigan Chapter. Re- tering and exiting a home, to someone who sacrificed While we have seen an overall decrease in reports addressing the homeless cently, the PHH West Michigan Chapter partnered with the veteran population, we are finding more and more living in sheds or substandard and fought for our great nation’s freedom. Jim VanEllen’s Rolling Thunder Chapter 4 in Muskegon, Michigan to help unhealthy homes. This is truly a national tragedy - that our nation’s sons and words say it all: build a ramp for a U.S. Army Purple Heart medal recipient, daughters who would fight to extend freedoms around the globe have returned who served three tours in Vietnam and received three home and are forced to fight for their own survival. I pray for peace every day and thank God for all of his Purple Hearts. blessings every day. I can't even begin to think of how It takes a village is a cliche that is very true. The boy cannot prepare for war on his I can thank him for bringing people like you, PHH, and Contributors: As a native of the Seneca Iroquois Six Nation, Jim VanEl- or her own. The solider, sailor, airman, or marine cannot deploy on their own, nor Rolling Thunder Chapter 4 into my life. I can't thank you John Gallina, Kerry Lawing, Brad Borders, len and his wife, Marty, have taken great pride in helping Paul Cockerham, Charlie Eadie, Tammy Pate, can they reintegrate on their own. To return and become a part of civilized society all enough for everything you have done for me and help- Matt Stevenson and Cindy Thompson again requires being accepted back into society. That is the role and responsibility put on a Purple Heart Pow Wow in White Cloud, Michigan ing me keep some of my dignity with moving freely in and of the civilian population; to accept, love and support those Veterans that we send for the past 20 years. Then they needed some help them- out of my home without fear of falling again. It means around the world to do our bidding, to rid the world of evil tyranny. Once home selves; the VanEllens had trouble safely entering and the world to Marty and me. exiting their home. Purple Heart Homes is an equal opportunity employer and every Veteran is just looking for peace and acceptance. provider. “Financial information about this organization and Our Purple Heart Home Chapters continue to have an a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation How many times a day or week do you go in and out of Licensing Section at www.secretary.state.nc.us/verification. Through your support of Purple Heart Homes you are doing just that - letting amazing impact in their local communities. We are blessed The license is not an endorsement by the State.” a Veteran know they are loved and their service mattered. your home without any consideration at all? If it was a to have them as part of the PHH Family. 3 BUILDING This space is currently in use, turning out tiny homes, with BRAD BORDERS modular bedrooms and bathrooms, and prefabricated IMPACTING LIVES ramps. To date, we have two tiny homes occupied by COMMUNITY VP of Community Outreach Veterans, two modular rooms installed in Veteran's homes and in the past two years over 40 ramps have been built. DURING COVID-19 We plan to expand this manufacturing effort and employ “Your project is approved; we are going to In 2009, I found myself at a tiny little combat outpost named Veterans to build for other Veterans. COP Woodcock. It housed less than 150 infantry soldiers, who take care of you and your family!” with CHARLES EADIE were a part of counter insurgency operations from the 25th We also recognized another Veteran housing need we could Infantry division. Because of some flight scheduling issues, Chairman of the Board address. As most of you know we have a Veteran Housing This statement was followed by shouts of acclamation, tears, and hugs. That is exactly the way it played out at Othoniel I got stuck there longer than expected and ended up meeting Opportunity Program (or VHOP) that allows Veteran families Rondon’s home just a few weeks back. It is one of the most some of the finest folks I’ve ever met. to purchase a home thru VHOP for 50% of the appraised On behalf of the Purple Heart Homes family, I would like to rewarding things we get to say to Veterans. value. This program continues and we added a rental It turns out that Othoniel served in that unit - he had wish you a Merry Christmas, as we come to the end of this component. PHH remodeled 7 houses that were donated Imagine that you have served multiple combat tours and now brothers there.