In 2007, a group of Vietnam veterans decided they wanted to do something to help our wounded...

In 2007, a group of Vietnam veterans decided they wanted to do something to help our wounded veterans.

These men formed an organization called “Vets Help Vets” in order to achieve that goal.

Our mission is to help our fellow vets with home renovations

• VHV is a Georgia 501(C)(3) corporation whose charter is to provide home improvements for qualified veterans.

• We raise the necessary funds to pay for all material and supplies.

• To qualify for assistance, a veteran must have suffered a service-connected disability and live within our service delivery area

• 100% of donations received are used to purchase material and supplies.

• No member of Vets Help Vets receives any compensation.

• All work is done by volunteers.

• All projects will meet applicable building code requirements.

Since September 11th

The United States has suffered more than 6,118 combat fatalities and over 43,293 serious injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan (May 31, 2011)

The high incident rate of IED’s has produced many spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries

Technology is saving lives

From battlefield to rehab today’s soldiers receive the finest medical care in the world. More of our severely injured troops are surviving the battle to return home to their families.

The reality however, is….

After service personnel complete their medical recovery and rehabilitation, they will most likely be discharged from the military and returned home to begin their re-integration into civilian life

Coming homeA residence can present many challenges to a person living with a physical or mental handicap

The veteran and their family are responsible for hiring a contractor to make the necessary renovations

Georgia does not require contractors to be licensed, so finding a qualified contractor is not always easy

Our service areaWe offer our renovation service in the following counties

FultonCobbGwinnettDeKalbCherokeeForsythPickensDawson

Licensed contractors

Local building codes require a licensed contractor to perform electrical and plumbing work

Larry Hughes and Tom Russell, who are both Vietnam vets and licensed electricians, provide electrical support for our projects

Todd Goss, a Gulf War vet and a licensed plumber, provides plumbing support for our projects

Volunteers do all the work

LCPL Tracy SwearingenStone Mountain, GeorgiaJanuary 2008

Ramp area before construction Vets helping another vet

Completed ramp LCPL Tracy Swearingen and family

Grab bar installation - 2008

Volunteer Dick ScharfCLASS OF ‘63 USMA

Specialist Gentry

Several years ago Shepherd Center acquired an older apartment building to provide vets and their families a place to live during their transition to independent living.

The apartments were dated and in need of renovations to make them more residential and less institutional.

Shepherd Place Project

VHV saw this as a good match with our mission statement and agreed to provide the labor and funding to renovate Shepherd Place.

Shepherd Place – 66 Peachtree Park Drive, Atlanta

Before After

Interior renovations

Bedroom before

After

Front living room before

After

Kitchen area

Before After

Details are important

Refinished bench Decorative backsplash

Custom number New 37” flat screen TV

The parking lot was the only place you could visit outside with family and friends at Shepherd Place

We designed and built a pavilion

Construction drawing Ready for the trusses

Next step is roofing Ceiling fan and light Picnic table will accommodate two wheel chairs

Raised garden project for Biscayne apartments – June 2011

We received a call from a case manager at Shepherd that inquired about Vets Help Vets providing an elevated garden for the residents of Biscayne

apartments. These residents are military personnel recovering from traumatic brain injury. The garden planter was constructed one week later.

Sergeant Kendra Piper

Sgt Piper lost her leg in Afghanistan while serving with the 173rd Airborne asa military policeman. Her father had come East to help renovate her home and

had requested assistance from the West Point Society. He was referred to Vets Help Vets and we were able to apply for and receive a $5,000 grant from the Home Depot Foundation to help him with the cost of material for his renovation.

Wheel chair ramp for LTC. Aliffi

July 2011

Steps only access Re-build the entrance Follow the plan

Details are important Long hours for volunteers Ramp built to code

SSGT Daniel Lister was badly wounded and requested assistance in renovating his home

New door to downstairs bath Open toilet in master bath

Roll in shower Handrail system throughout

SSGT Lister in new shower

What can you do?

Make a financial donation to Vets Help Vets to continue our work

Volunteer your time and talent

Recommend a qualified veteran for assistance with home renovation in our service area

Visit our website at www.vetshelpvets.org to make a donation or register to volunteer

“Never again should a generation of veterans forget another”