NORFOLK, Va. –
Pregnant, single, and female veterans in need of shelter in Norfolk can sleep a bit more soundly at night since their transitional housing facility was transformed into a home Sept. 22, thanks to more than 100 volunteers from throughout Hampton Roads, including active-duty servicemembers and wounded warriors.
This service project, one of 24 large-scale service projects throughout Hampton Roads, hosted by "The Mission Continues" and "The Home Depot Foundation," will improve the quality of life of the residents of Barrett Haven Home, a nonprofit corporation which provides transitional housing and services to pregnant and/or single-female parents, some who are veterans, who find themselves in a homeless situation for a variety of reasons.
"We take women who are serious about changing their lives," said Peggy Homesly, Barrett Haven Home executive director. "We get about 30 calls a day. All of the projects planned for this home will be done in just one day, and thanks to each of our volunteers, we'll be able to screen applications beginning next week for move-in."
During the $15,000 project, the volunteers helped create two new office spaces, allowing for the existing offices in the building to be converted to bedrooms for four female veterans to receive housing and assistance. The completion of this project will officially make this site a veteran-friendly home, bringing the maximum capacity from 10 to 16 residents.
More than half the volunteers consisted of veterans and active-duty servicemembers.
There was no blue versus green. It was one team working cohesively to serve a mission greater than themselves under one heart, one mind, one purpose. Among them were six Soldiers from the 690th Rapid Port Opening Element, 597th Transportation Brigade, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command.
"We serve the country on a daily basis, so it's an honor to help others, especially those who once served," said Sgt. Carlos Palmore, 690th RPOE transportation specialist. "This is a way for us to give back to our veterans, and to take some time to come out and help those in need."
This service project is one of 300 community service projects in 40 cities nationwide, serviced by 12,000 veteran, civilian, and active-duty military volunteers during "Celebration of Service," a two-month service campaign by "The Mission Continues" between Sept. 11, 2011, and Veterans' Day. The campaign will benefit schools, parks, homeless shelters, and other community organizations.
"The military family in itself is a supportive network, and I've known that myself from my time in the military," said Vessie Taylor, 48, Barrett Haven Home resident and Navy veteran. "Seeing all the volunteers here, especially the active-duty servicemembers working so hard on our home, it's a humbling experience to see the military family extend their support to the local community."
Other project tasks for the home included redesign and upgrades to the kitchen and providing more storage and functionality, which increases the food storage capacity and number of individuals who can be served meals on a daily basis.
In addition, volunteers assisted with general beautification and improvement services, such as landscaping, building picnic tables, painting common areas, assembling sheds, installing ceiling fans throughout the building, pressure washing of the exterior of the building, installing new vanities in bathrooms, and installing ceramic tile in the kitchen and offices.
"It makes me feel good to be a part of this service project," said Pvt. Daryl Rutledge, 690th RPOE transportation specialist, who has been in the Army for less than six months. "I enjoy being in the Army, and it's great to be able to take some time out to help others in need."
The 597th Trans. Bde. headquarters on Fort Eustis oversees operations of four battalions located in Jacksonville, Fla., Seattle, Beaumont, Texas, and North Charleston, S.C. The brigade also oversees operations of three RPOEs, which have Soldiers with specialized training to open up a seaport or aerial port within 24 hours anywhere in the world to transport cargo of commodities, such as food, water and shelter in war-torn regions, or areas where natural disasters have occurred.
The 597th Trans. Bde. is a subordinate unit of Military SDDC located at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., with a mission to conduct surface deployment distribution and water terminal operations along the Atlantic Seaboard.
SDDC is the Army Service Component Command of U.S. Transportation Command and is responsible for strategic surface transportation and distribution for the DOD. For more information on SDDC, visit
http://www.sddc.army.mil.