Serving a U.S. Navy Veteran with Lima One
In honor of Veterans Day, we’re sharing Richard’s Story. Richard is a U.S. Navy Veteran who served for 13 years. He is one out of 140 Veterans helped by our home repair program. Thanks to Lima One Capital for making repairs at Richard’s home possible.
Richard is a local Veteran whose favorite thing to do is sit outside and listen to music. He has a table in his yard where he likes to sit when the weather is nice. He can enjoy the warmth of the sunshine and freshness of the air while he listens to tunes of all kinds, as he says he loves a variety of music.
In recent years, Richard’s favorite spot outside his home has not been entirely accessible because the old ramp leading from the house to the yard needed major repair and became unreliable.
Richard and his wife, Linda, have lived in their home since 1996. The pair met while Richard was stationed in Jacksonville during his time in the Navy. Richard always knew he wanted to join the U.S. Navy, and he was determined to do so. After two unsuccessful attempts to enlist, Richard enrolled in a technical college but soon dropped out because he knew deep down it wasn’t what he wanted. He was already planning on trying to enlist a third time, but before he could—the Navy reached out to him. They told him they had a spot for him on a boat…that left in four days. Richard got on that boat.
He served in the U.S. Navy for 13 years. He says his time in the service taught him so much, like how to be on his own and how to stick up for himself. His other jobs in the restaurant and printing industries taught him about hard work.
Unfortunately, in 2007 Richard found out he had lymphoma in his abdomen. He was in the hospital for a year, then in an assisted living facility for 8 months. The cancer and treatments left Richard paralyzed from the knees down. He’s been using a mobility device since 2011.
To help Richard get the safe and secure ramp he deserved, Rebuild Upstate partnered with Lima One Capital, a real estate lending company founded by U.S. Marines in 2010. Lima One generously donated not only their time but also their dollars, totally sponsoring the project for $2,500.
Ashley Winter, Director of ValCon at Lima One Capital says,
“Sponsoring and working alongside the Rebuild Upstate team to help Richard and his wife with their ramp and front porch was an exciting project to work on. This was right in my neighborhood. In just one day we were able to see how this limitation was impacting them and how this change we were making would help improve their ability to access their home. Richard fought hard for our country and it felt good to be able to give back to him in a way beyond thanking him for his service.”
Speaking to the volunteer experience itself, Kelly Kurtz, Senior Revenue Recovery Specialist at Lima One Capital says it was great. “Upon arrival, the homeowner provided doughnuts, water, and snacks, so you are ready for the day. The site leader explains everything clearly, making you feel comfortable and confident in your abilities. You genuinely feel welcomed and appreciated for your time. Our mission that day was to build a ramp to allow a Veteran to enter and exit his home with ease. We had the opportunity to meet him and his family, they were grateful for our time and it gives you a sense of pride that you can assist those individuals who have served our country. Great experience!”
In just a few hours, Ashley, Kelly, and other volunteers from Lima One successfully constructed a brand-new ramp for Richard. The new ramp gives Richard peace of mind and reconnects him with his community.
A ramp is supposed to provide a safe and secure way to exit one’s home. For Richard, his old ramp had become a source of worry. Now, with a sturdier ramp, he no longer has to stress about using it, and he doesn’t feel cut off from his favorite hobby – enjoying the outside of his home. When asked about the volunteers who worked on the project, Richard says “I’m so grateful for what they did. I appreciate it so much.”
We count on community partners like Lima One Capital to make these repairs possible. When a business, church, or group brings funds and volunteers to our build sites, we’re able to mobilize faster and make transformative repairs happen.
We’re celebrating veterans like Richard this Veterans Day. Rebuild Upstate has repaired the homes of more than 140 veterans since 2006, and will continue serving those who have served.
There are 47 Veterans in the upstate still awaiting repair assistance. If your business wants to sponsor a repair project for one of these neighbors in need, please reach out to Rosey at [email protected] to start the conversation. We welcome the opportunity to serve more upstate veterans like Richard with your help.