by Merri Bennett
Since 2015, The Salvation Army in Kent County, Mich., has partnered with The Home Depot Association, local “Team Depot” associates and hundreds of volunteers, who complete landscaping and outdoor home repair projects for veterans and active-duty service members and their families.
Chris Striebel, Great Lakes executive director of emergency disaster services, has been working with The Home Depot from the beginning.
“The Salvation Army is known for helping veterans and for our canteens,” Chris said, “So when Home Depot reached out asking if we could feed volunteers, we knew we wanted to help in any way we could.”
Over the past two years, The Salvation Army also has provided emotional and spiritual care. At a morning rally with volunteers, Grand Valley Area Commander Major Tim Meyer delivered the invocation, then traveled to different sites as lunches were delivered to converse and encourage veterans, their families, and those involved in the projects. For instance, this year when a flagpole was erected at one veteran’s home, Major Tim gathered everyone to salute and sing “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” as the American flag raised for the first time.
“As a veteran myself, I am so thankful we are a part of this project,” Major Tim said. “For all they have given of themselves, veterans are often the last to ask for help.”
Over the past 10 years, approximately 200 veterans and their families have been helped.
Maribeth Groen, who is with the Heart of West Michigan United Way which has provided volunteers since 2019, says that the volunteers’ commitment to making a difference for veterans and their families often stems from a desire to honor their own family members who were veterans.
“Many of our volunteers have a connection to veterans through family members that are no longer with us and that is why they do this,” she said. “One volunteer’s father passed away, and that is why he is here every year.”
For veterans, the projects often serve as a reminder of the gratitude we have for the sacrifices they’ve made for our country, and they are grateful as expressed by one veteran who wrote, “God Bless you. And God Bless America.”
