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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

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October 3, 2014

A Celebration of Service with Home Depot

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by The Home Depot Foundation, but all opinions are my own. Please see below for additional disclosure

Home Depot Service to Veterans 16 small

I left my home bright and early and made sure to take my #serviceselfie….

I knew I was in for a day that would be big.  A day that had me already in tears and filled with emotion on the drive up. A day I  knew would impact me for life. I couldn’t wait to see what beauty unfolded over the next few hours with Team Depot.

Team Depot and their volunteers, as part of The Home Depot Foundation Celebration of Service have committed for two months, from 9/11 to Veterans Day,  to put their talents to work to transform 1,000 homes for veterans. Home Depot is making an ongoing effort to address veteran housing challenges and serve those who have served us all.  Giving Back to VeteransWith the power of Team Depot volunteers, The Home Depot has transformed more than 13,000 homes for veterans.  Giving back to veterans is personal to The Home Depot – more than 35,000 of their associates are veterans.

Celebration of Service

Thousands of The Home Depot’s store associates spend their time off volunteering their talents as members of Team Depot in communities across the country.

Personally, as the granddaughter-in-law, daughter-in-law and wife of former veterans and as the mother of a son who is currently in Basic Training, it was such an privilege to be asked to spend the day honoring this soldier, and his wife.  Chris and Larissa.

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Chris is veteran of the Iraq War.  In 2009 Chris’s vehicle was struck by an IED causing him to suffer head and and leg injuries. Those injured himself, Chris pulled several of his fellow soldier’s to safety, called in medical support and maintained security unit help arrived.  It was this action that earned him his first Purple Heart.  When he returned to the states, Chris married his longtime sweetheart, Larissa and then after recovering, was deployed again to Iraq.

In 20ll while serving as a machine gunner, his vehicle was AGAIN struck, this time by an EFP.  Chris suffered a severely fractured skull, neck and spine injuries and the impact stopped his breathing for an hours, resulting in anoxia brain injury.  Chris earned his second Purple Heart.

What Chris also earned was the respect and admiration of every person that volunteered to be a part of this wonderful day of giving back to a hero!

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Chris and Larissa were able to purchase a repossessed property, but had even unable to properly remodel it.  The house had fallen into disrepair and had suffered wind and water damage, now was time to bring Chris and Larissa HOME!

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From outside…..

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To inside….

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From women with power tools….

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To men with hammers….

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and paintbrushes….

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….they each worked tirelessly to make Chris and Larissa’s log cabin, in the woods, a sanctuary!

Even the local Fire Department got in on the act!

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Taking time out of their own service to give back to a local hero!

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Without a doubt, though, the best part of the day were the smiling faces full of joy at being able to collectively say “thank you” to someone who sacrificed so much for us.

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People who took time out of their day off from work to spend it working to provide a home for Chris and Larissa to safely live in and enjoy!

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For a day, I felt like I was one of the team.  A team of hard working people that truly care about each other, their community and being a proud employee of Home Depot….

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and that my friends is what the “true” Power of Home Depot is…the power to make a difference! To make a difference in the lives of men and women who have sacrificed so much for this country and for our freedom…that’s the  power of Home Depot!

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I’d love you to take a moment to watch this quick video of the day!

Thank you Home Depot and thank you Chris and Larissa for letting me be a small part of this amazing experience.  May your home provide a place of peace and refuge for you for many years to come!

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Disclosure: The Home Depot Foundation partnered with bloggers such as me for their Celebration of Service program. As part of this program, I received compensation for my time. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about any product mentioned in these posts. The Home Depot Foundation believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. The Home Depot Foundation’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

 

11 Comments Filed Under: Community, Good Thoughts

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Devra aka ThePomeroyLife says

    October 3, 2014 at 5:20 AM

    Wow! this is wonderful!
    My husband works for the Home Depot, and we both love all the charity work that they do!

    Reply
  2. Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says

    October 3, 2014 at 6:20 AM

    Such a fabulous project and so happy you were able to be a part of it. Most people don’t know that I was a manager for Home Depot for years. Great company.

    Reply
  3. Jenna says

    October 3, 2014 at 6:54 AM

    This is so amazing. Veterans deserve so much from us and this is one awesome way of giving back! You are amazing for helping out, Heather!

    Reply
  4. Claire @ A Little Claireification says

    October 3, 2014 at 7:04 AM

    That is so awesome – I am so thrilled to hear how much HD is doing for our veterans. Love this Heather and glad you were able to be a part of it!! xo

    Reply
  5. Julia G. says

    October 3, 2014 at 8:44 AM

    Thank you Chris and Larissa for your service to this great Country! And thank you Heather for letting us know about the Home Depot and their giving back to our Veterans!

    Reply
  6. Lisa says

    October 3, 2014 at 10:04 AM

    That’s a beautiful thing you participated in!

    BTW…You look awesome! I almost didn’t recognize you!

    Reply
  7. Mo says

    October 3, 2014 at 11:21 AM

    As a grandson of a currently serving Navy guy I can appreciate the passion of this project. Thank you for helping one well deserving human being!

    Reply
  8. Teri says

    October 3, 2014 at 2:04 PM

    Awesome! thanks from the wife of a 22 yr veteran!

    Reply
  9. Donnamae says

    October 3, 2014 at 6:47 PM

    What a wonderful experience! Thanks for letting us know about what Home Depot does for veterans! 😉

    Reply
  10. Lori says

    October 6, 2014 at 5:10 AM

    Great job and wonderful experience. (PS, I follow you on Bloglovin’. When it comes to your post I get “kicked” out of my blog roll when your blog appears. I have to go back to my main bloglovn’ page and start over to read the rest of my saved blogs? Kind of frustratings. I quit following another that did that. Is that something you have set to happen?)

    Reply
  11. Marianne says

    October 7, 2014 at 8:12 PM

    I love Home Depot. They are a great organization!

    Reply

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