Home Depot's Mission Continues at DAV in Orlando

UPDATE
Here's the video I promised the other day



This is one of those stories you don't often hear about. This is about the DAV I belong to and I have to tell you that you'd have a hard time meeting a more dedicated group of veterans and auxiliary members. I am Chaplain of the Auxiliary and all of them have my heart.

When news came out that Home Depot had selected the DAV to be one of the 24 projects to be done across the nation it was as if they just delivered a miracle. All the money we raise goes to veterans so having to spend money on the building for our sake didn't seem right. It was very hard just talking about the new roof the building needed while we put up with the leaks just like the rest of the repairs that needed to be done.

That's the biggest problem when a group does things for others instead of for profit. Often, most of the time, you'll find them working more hours than people working for paychecks and when they're home, they are still at it, reading reports, emailing and planning what else they can do to be of service. Without focusing on their own needs, sooner or later, things get old and worn out but there never seems to be enough money or time to fix any of it. Do they stop doing what their "mission" is to take care of themselves or do they pray to God someone finally helps them?

God answered our prayers and about 100 volunteers showed up to be His hands.

Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011
Veterans and volunteers fix up Orlando DAV Center
Effort allows DAV to maintain services
By Joe Ruble

Joe Ruble
Over 100 volunteers from The Home Depot and The Mission Continues repair Chapter 16 of the Disabled American Veterans in Orlando. Sept 13, 2011

ORLANDO, Fla. — A non-profit agency that serves 15,000 veterans in Central Florida with an annual budget of $16,000 had to make a tough decision. Were they to spend their funds entirely on the needs of homeless and other veterans or finally start a badly needed renovation project in the building they have called home for 49 years?

"It was coming down to hard decisions," said Brad Bouters, commander of DAV Chapter 16 in Orlando.

Then another non-profit stepped in and with the help of The Home Depot Foundation were able to pull off the repair job. The Mission Continues organized over 100 volunteers who showed up at 2040 W. Central Avenue on Tuesday morning to turn it into a new place of work.

The DAV office there is normally open two days a week for paperwork, while the rest of the time veterans are working in the field with homeless veterans, Bouters explained. Not one DAV volunteer gets paid.

"It's just veterans giving back," he said.
read more here

The video on this is coming soon. I went out and filmed it.