Oswego, NY – Kathy Rice (shown pictured centered), Community Programs Director for Thank a Service Member, an Oswego-based veterans charity, recently honored National Grid veterans working on the Syracuse Habitat for Humanity Veterans Build with special tribute coins honoring their service to our country.
Habitat for Humanity is building two energy efficient handicap accessible and affordable homes at 113 and 115 Fitch St. on Syracuse’s West Side. These veterans’ builds are among the first of their kind in the country and the walls were recently raised on one of two homes being built for disabled veterans in the Syracuse area.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs almost 290,000 veterans are considered 100 percent disabled. “This is an astounding statistic,” said Kathy Rice, “and this does not include the veterans who are coming home daily with injuries sustained in battle. Habitat for Humanity is doing a great service to our veterans with these builds and we’re convinced this “first of its kind” project will become the template for many more homes to be built across the country to help our veterans!”
“National Grid values our employee veterans as a key part of our local workforce and is grateful for the work done by Thank A Service Member in the community,” said Melanie Littlejohn, National Grid Director of Community and Customer Management.” We are honored to support our veterans work and partnership with Habitat for Humanity and all they do to serve the local community.”
National Grid is sponsoring these unique builds, and many of the volunteers, including Brett Hurlburt, (receiving coin in photo), are from National Grid’s Veterans Employee Resource Group, a newly formed group whose mission and focus includes helping military veterans within our community through support and participation in community programs and events.
“Thank a Service Member is proud to be part of such a worthy and meaningful project,” said Pete Allen, Executive Director of Thank a Service Member. “We are so grateful to Habitat for Humanity, National Grid and all of the caring businesses within our community, and especially to all of the volunteers who make great projects like this happen.”
Family selection is still underway and the homes will be dedicated on Veterans Day, November 11, 2011. For more Information about the homes, please contact the Syracuse Habitat for Humanity at (315) 422-2230. To learn more about Thank a Service Member visit their website at www.ThankaServiceMember.org or call (315) 402-5915.
Thank a Service Member is a non-profit organization based in Oswego, New York. It was founded in 2006 as a grass roots initiative and was incorporated in 2010. Thank a Service Member’s mission is to educate the public and to support and show appreciation to the men and women who have served the country. Their programs provide creative solutions to the problems faced by active duty military members, veterans, and their families, through their non-political and non-partisan campaigns.
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