Disabled veteran has to pay property tax---because home caught on fire?

Disabled Veteran hit with high property tax bill after house fire in Theodore

NBC 15 News
by Muriel Bailey
February 1, 2019

THEODORE, Ala. (WPMI) — A disabled veteran and his wife say they were hit with a high property tax bill after their home caught fire.

The couple says they're now expected to pay the bill because their homestead exemption was canceled.

Last year we introduced you to Kay and Daniel Vanek. An electrical fire damaged their home in Theodore in October of 2017.

Home depot came by to help with repairs since Daniel is a disabled veteran with Parkinson’s disease.

The couple is back in their home now, but it came with some sticker shock.

"When that bill came it was quite a shock we were just not expecting that amount of money," Kay said.

Kay says they've received homestead exemption for more than 10 years, which means they didn't pay property taxes.

However, she says that changed and they got a 2018 tax bill for 1400 dollars.

"They said that was because we did not live here every day of that year," she said.
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Veterans in other news on October 12, 2018

Disabled Army veteran rescues flag being run over by cars

KXXV News
By Holly Stouffer, Reporter
October 11, 2018

TEMPLE, TX (KXXV) - Chris Ellenburg was driving home from work on FM 1237 Monday afternoon when something in the road caught his eye. "I honestly could not believe it," Ellenburg said. "I figured it was normal trash, but as soon as I saw the flag open up as it flipped over into my lane, I knew." Ellenburg was heated. He immediately pulled over and hopped out of his truck to rescue the tattered flag that was being run over by other drivers.

"You're dang right I stopped traffic," Ellenburg said. "And there were still disrespectful people driving by as I had this flag, picking it up off the ground in the middle of a freaking road." He said some drivers even honked at him to get out of the way. As a disabled Army veteran, Ellenburg was trained to leave no man behind. He sees his fellow soldiers each time he looks at the flag. read more here

Veteran's family fights to bring long lost sister from Vietnam to NC

WECT news October 12, 2018 WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - In the wake of Hurricane Florence, a lot of us know what it’s like to feel displaced.

Anne Puangprasert, Wayne Lipford and Kumaune (WECT)

Anne Puangprasert has known that feeling her whole life, having overcome abuse, loss, and even a falsified death. Anne is the daughter of a Vietnam veteran who moved to Wilmington after the war, and her family is now trying desperately to bring her home. Pete Lipford met his sister Anne for the first time last year. He is 45. She is 48. Pete knew he had a sister, but thought, as did his father, Wayne, that she had died decades ago. read more here

Army nurse recounts her service in Vietnam, impact on her life

Jennifer Horbelt, Mike Spissinger
WPSD Local 6 news
October 11, 2018

PADUCAH — The Wall That Heals is coming to Paducah from Oct. 25 to 28. There are more than 58,000 names on this traveling replica Vietnam Memorial. They are the men and women who never came home.

Marj Graves stands at the nurse’s station in the 24th Evacuation Hospital at Long Binh during her tenure in Vietnam.

Those who did very likely were cared for by army nurses like Marj Graves. When the chance to help soldiers in Vietnam presented itself, she didn’t hesitate to go, but she saw and experienced things that cut deep and nearly took her life. She has spent decades learning to care for herself as much as she cares for others. “We may not have carried a gun, we may not have been on the front lines of combat, but some of the things that we saw and that we experienced were horrific. Horrific,” Marj said. From the time Marj was old enough to play with dolls, she knew she wanted to be a nurse. “I never wanted to be anything else but a nurse,” Marj said. read more here

Son of dead Quincy veteran attacks Rauner in new Pritzker ad

WGN 9 News
BY TAHMAN BRADLEY
Octobr 11, 2018

CHICAGO — Hours before the final gubernatorial debate in Quincy, the J.B. Pritzker campaign launched a blistering new attack ad featuring the son of a veteran who died after contracting Legionnaire’s disease at the Illinois Veterans Home. Eugene Miller is one of 14 residents of the Quincy home to die during the Legionnaires’ outbreaks since 2015. His son, Tim Miller, appeared in the television commercial titled “Heroes.”

“Gov. Rauner was more interested in protecting his image than he was the heroes who protected our country,” Tim Miller says to the camera. As Miller describes visiting his dying father in the hospital, the spot cuts to a graphic on screen that reads, “For six days the state of Illinois knew of a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak and said nothing.” read more here

Widow of Army veteran receives home makeover thanks to Home Depot and HomeStrong USA

Fontana Herald News

October 11, 2018

The widow of a U.S. Army veteran received a very special home makeover in Bloomington on Oct. 4. The Home Depot Foundation partnered with HomeStrong USA to transform the home of Maria Rowe, the widow of George Rowe, who served more than nine years in the Vietnam War.

Originally tasked with renovating the Rowes' bathroom, the Home Depot Foundation increased its support to cover renovations needed throughout the home after Maria Rowe unexpectedly lost her husband last year. More than 90 members of Team Depot, the Home Depot's associate-led volunteer force, completed the work on their day off. read more here

Family reunited with missing soldier's remains, visits lab that identified him

KETV News

Sarah Fili

October 11, 2018

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. — An American hero is home. Army Sgt. Melvin Anderson was killed in World War II and was listed as "missing in action. His remains were recently identified in Nebraska. Thursday, his family got to see the lab that reunited them. “He’s just been a part of our family. And even though he’s been missing for that long we've always had hope we would find him,” Maureen Herzberg, Anderson's niece, said. Anderson died fighting in Germany in 1944. He was buried in an American cemetery overseas but was never identified. That changed when his skeleton was exhumed and sent to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency laboratory at Offutt. read more here

HOME DEPOT FOUNDATION REACHES QUARTER-BILLION-DOLLARS for Veterans!

THE HOME DEPOT FOUNDATION REACHES QUARTER-BILLION-DOLLAR COMMITMENT TO VETERAN-RELATED CAUSES

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May 04, 2018

ATLANTA, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, The Home Depot® Foundation announced it has reached its goal of investing a quarter of a billion dollars in veteran-related causes by 2020 – two years early. 

Since 2011, the Foundation’s mission has been to improve the homes and lives of U.S. military veterans, with a focus on serving homeless, combat-wounded and senior veterans. In 2016, due to the growing needs of those who served, the Foundation pledged to give $250 million by 2020 to nonprofits serving veterans. 

Through incredible partnerships with organizations including Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Semper Fi Fund, Habitat for Humanity, Volunteers of America and many others, The Home Depot Foundation has impacted the lives of veterans and their families across the United States. Since 2011, the Foundation has enhanced nearly 40,000 veteran homes and facili-ties in more than 2,500 cities. 

“Our veterans have sacrificed so we can have our freedom, so it’s a true honor to give back to them,” said Shannon Gerber, executive director of The Home Depot Foundation. “We’re fortunate to work with the best nonprofits in the veteran housing space and we’ll continue to partner together to serve those who have served us all.”  

About The Home Depot Foundation 

The Home Depot Foundation works to improve the homes and lives of U.S. veterans, train skilled tradespeople to fill the labor gap and support communities impacted by natural disasters.

Since 2011, the Foundation has invested a quarter of a billion dollars in veteran-related causes and improved more than 40,000 veteran homes and facilities in 2,500 cities. In 2018, the Foundation committed an additional $50 million dollars to train 20,000 skilled tradespeople over the next 10 years starting with separating military members and veterans, at-risk youth and members of the Atlanta Westside community. To learn more about The Home Depot Foundation and see Team Depot in action, visit thd.co/community and follow us on Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram@teamdepot and on Facebook at facebook.com/teamdepot.

Habitat for Humanity Teams Up For Generations of Veterans

Habitat For Humanity Of South Palm Beach Holds Veterans Build

Delray News

Staff Report

December 4, 2017

Delray Beach family members, veterans and neighbors now have spruced up homes thanks to Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach, Vertical Bridge and the Home Depot Foundation.

The homeowners, who are cousins living on the same Delray Beach street, are also members of the military. They have seen many wars including serving in WWII, Iraq and the youngest currently stationed in Germany, spanning three generations of service.

They are 92-year-old WWII Veteran Albert Green who served 41 years in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Merchant Marines stationed in the Pacific Rim during WWII in the Steward Department and Sedric Doughty, who 17 served years in the U.S. Navy, U.S. Navy Reserve and U.S. Air Force Reserve stationed in Japan as military police officer (final rank E-5) and saw active duty in the Iraq and Afghanistan War. Sedric’s son, 18-year-old Sedric Jr. who lives with him in the home passed down from Sedric’s mom, currently serves in the U.S. Army stationed in Germany.

Made possible by a $35,000 gift from presenting sponsor Boca-based Vertical Bridge with $32,000 in grant funding from Home Depot Foundation, more than 100 volunteers from both companies transformed their homes in honor of Veterans Day.

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Home Depot Foundation Commits $1 Million to Help Texas Recover

Remember our friends with the Home Depot Foundation showing up to help veterans? Well they're at it again! This time they are responding to Texas after Harvey hit them hard.

The Home Depot Foundation Commits $1 Million to Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief Efforts

ATLANTA, Aug. 28, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- The Home Depot® Foundation today announced its commitment of $1 million to support Hurricane Harvey disaster relief efforts in Texas and Louisiana.

Funds will be distributed to several nonprofit partners including the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Convoy of Hope, Operation Blessing and Team Rubicon to support both short-term relief and rebuilding needs.

"Our hearts and full support go out to our communities, customers and associates that are being impacted by Hurricane Harvey," said Shannon Gerber, executive director of The Home Depot Foundation. "The Home Depot Foundation and Team Depot volunteers will work alongside our disaster relief partners to assist the people and areas impacted by this catastrophic storm."

In addition to helping the communities affected by Hurricane Harvey, the Foundation's employee assistance program, The Homer Fund, will provide emergency financial assistance to associates who have been affected by this tragedy.

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Community and Home Depot Foundation Rebuild Old House for Veterans

Shabby McDonough building to become place ‘where veterans can feel safe’

Henry Herald

Asia Ashley

August 15, 2017

McDONOUGH— A formerly vacant 115-year-old building will soon be transformed into a safe resource hub for local veterans.

Veterans Support Group, a McDonough nonprofit that provides free assistance to military veterans, took on the 32 Jonesboro St. building through a $10-per-year lease agreement with the McDonough City Council approved in October 2015. Before the agreement, city officials were considering tearing down the building to make way for a parking lot for downtown patrons.

“This is a dream come true,” said Veterans Support Group CEO Bob Van Dunk during Tuesday’s groundbreaking ceremony. “If you look at what we’ve been doing for the last six years, we’ve been meeting people in pizza parlors and everything else, and the city has been gracious to give us this house for the veterans of Henry County.”

Through generous donations from local businesses — including Mercer University, which donated furniture and computers, and the Home Depot Foundation, which donated approximately $93,000 toward the project — the building will not be torn down and will be used for a much more meaningful purpose. 

“If it wasn’t for Home Depot, this place would probably be 17 parking spots,” said Van Dunk during Tuesday’s groundbreaking ceremony. “It’s amazing how people come together to get this house up and running. It’s fantastic.”

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Home Depot Foundation Turned Orange into Color of Gratefulness

Volunteers help renovate veteran's home
WTSP
April 24, 2017

The Home Depot partnered with ServiceSource Florida to renovate the veteran’s home. Since 2011, The Home Depot Foundation has invested more than $184 million in veteran causes, and along with the help of Team Depot volunteers, has transformed more than 29,900 homes for veterans.

A team dressed in orange waved paint brushes across stucco like a group on a mission.

“I love brown. Brown is my absolute favorite color,” joked Largo Home Depot employee Lindsey Tornello as she slathered another layer of brown paint onto the garage door. “Had he picked teal, I don’t know.”

Dozens of volunteers from local Home Depot stores spent their day off sprucing up the home of Army veteran Randy Acker. The veteran, who has lived in the same home since 1985, was not able to keep up with a lot of the work that was needed on his home because of nagging injuries and fatigue.

“You could never ask for anything better than someone volunteering her time,” he said with a smile on his face. “'Grateful' isn’t the right word. 'Extraordinary' is a better word.”

Acker contacted ServiceSource Florida for help after seeing a story with a fellow veteran receiving help from Home Depot volunteers back in 2016. From high on the roof, Nancy Baraky used a pole to finish covering the chimney with brown paint.
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Army of Home Depot Volunteers Stepped Up For Army Veteran

VOLUNTEERS HELP IMPROVE HOME FOR ARMY VETERAN
WWAY News
December 8, 2016

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Dozens of volunteers came out to help improve the home of a local Army veteran on Thursday. It’s all part of a nationwide effort to give back, and now it’s going local.

Tristan Brown joined the military in 2006. In 2008, while deployed in Afghanistan, Brown was injured when his humvee ran over an IED. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and PTSD and was honorably discharged.

“That sent me home from deployment and that’s what I’ve been trying to kind of figure out, how to adjust to those injuries and those things over the past few years,” Brown said.

Brown, his wife and three kids recently became homeowners through a program that remodels foreclosed homes for veteran families.
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Home Depot Foundation Built Home For Amputee in 7 Days Then Didn't Rest

FROM FOUNDATION TO FINISHING TOUCHES: TEAM DEPOT BUILDS CUSTOM HOME FOR VETERAN IN 7 DAYS
Home Depot Foundation
October 14, 2016

When you ask Cody Evans why he wanted to join the military, his answer is simple: to help others and serve his country.

He enlisted in the U.S. Marines in 2009 and deployed to Afghanistan in 2011. While on patrol a few weeks before Christmas, Cody encountered a bomb blast and lost both of his legs.

It took nearly a year of recovery before he was ready to return to his Tennessee home. However, his home was no longer suited to fit his needs. Major modifications were needed just for Cody to get through the front door.

That’s when Cody’s community, nonprofit organization A Soldier’s Journey Home and Team Depot stepped in to help, building Cody a brand new, specially-adapted home in just one week.
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