Home Depot, "Rebuilding Together" Pitch In To Rehab Vet's Home
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POMPANO BEACH (CBSMiami) - A non-profit organization and a large retailer joined forces Friday to help change the lives of a couple living in Pompano Beach.
Donna and Ronald Herbst have lived in their newly painted home for 23 years. The old Florida-style home was built in 1960 and has needed major work inside and out. But Ronald Herbst is a disabled Vietnam veteran and the couple lives on a fixed income.
"Two problemns with my back," Herbst told CBS4's Donna Rapado. "My rotator cuff was broke. My left ankle was titanium. Broke a bone so bad that it was compound fracture."
"So you're limited" asked Rapado.
"Yeah," replied Herbst.
The Herbsts have been unable to physically or financially give their aging home the much need TLC it needs for a number of years.
"We wanna identify what's needed by these veterans. What is it that will make their lives easier and safer," said Nadene Rose of Home Depot.
That's where a group of about 25 volunteers came in along with the non-profit organization "Rebuilding Together Broward County" and the Home Depot.
On Friday they assessed the home and its owners needs. Then they made it happen.
"This particular home today we have some well-needed repairs," Rose told Rapado. "The kitchen was totally out of use. Basically we're just renovating the whole thing. We have some ceiling repairs. We always like to do landscaping because that actually provides a facelift on the home when it's completed. We have bathroom, the toilet needed to be ADA approved."
"When we find homeowners in need, what we do is go into their home and find how we can improve their health and safety," said Robin Martin of Rebuilding Together Broward County. "On top of improving health and safety we like to revitalize the community, which is why we're doing all the landscaping."
"And when you saw that truck load pull up," Rapado asked the couple.
"I almost had a heart attack," said a smiling Donna Herbst.
"I couldn't believe it. I mean everything from the kitchen sink," added Ronald Herbst.
"And such awesome people," added Donna Herbst.
"Ranges, refrigerators, shovels," Herbst gratefully pointed out. To which his wife added, "much more than we ever anticipated."
"We are looking for homeowners that are veterans so we caninvest in their lives like they've invested in our country," said Martin.
"Rebuilding Together Broward County is looking for more U.S. military veterans to help improve their homes. You must qualify, and you can start that process by filling out an application at RebuildingTogetherBroward.org.
