Now in its seventh year, Operation United deploys volunteers to the homes of veterans, active-duty service members, and surviving military spouses assisting with landscaping and outdoor home repair projects. Director of Events and Public Relations for Heart of West Michigan United Way, Maribeth Groen.
“A lot of times, veterans are the last people to ask for help, and so for a lot of our veterans, either because of their age or physical limitations or financial limitations, they’re unable to do some of this basic work, and it kind of just builds up from there.”
On average, 36 Kent, Ottawa and Allegan County families receive landscaping and outdoor home repairs each year. Work can include refuse removal, mulching, planting, and lawn mowing.
“For a lot of veterans, just seeing that someone cares and is willing to spend the day for them, it means so much. For our older veterans, a lot of them are homebound and they don’t get out much.”
Operation United’s service day is April 22nd.
Applications are now being accepted. Veterans can nominate themselves or nominate someone they know here. There is no fee to participate.
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