Richmond, VA (January 15, 2010) – Homes for Our Troops and the Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation will host a three-day Build Brigade from January 15-17 to provide Army SSG Dwayne A. Cole with a new specially adapted barrier free home. The Build Brigade will take place at 8217 Madeline Court in Henrico, VA.
Larry Archer Homes for Our Troops Build Brigade Construction Manager, along with local General Contractor, Steve Thomas, from Steve Thomas Homes will raise the first wall at 8:30 AM on Friday, January 15, 2010.
Throughout the Build Brigade, professional tradespeople will volunteer their time, skills and materials to frame the home, install doors, windows, a roof and siding to make it weather tight.
Army SSG Dwayne A. Cole was severely injured in early 2007 while deployed to Iraq. A bullet entered his neck at extremely close range and lodged near his spinal column, leaving him a quadriplegic. Lifesaving measures enabled SSG Cole to be airlifted to Balad, Iraq and eventually to Walter Reed Army Medical Center where he began his journey to recovery during his six month stay.
Army SSG Cole and his wife, Shontel, are currently living in a rented apartment with inaccessible bathrooms making it very challenging for him to have any independence or freedom. He continues to work diligently to regain movement and function and has most recently had success rebuilding the muscles in his hands. He enjoys helping those less fortunate and one day hopes to become a peer counselor for those with spinal cord injuries.
“The mission of Homes for Our Troops is to provide severely injured veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country with specially adapted homes. A barrier free home will enable SSG Dwayne Cole to be more independent so he can pursue his dreams for the sacrifice he made on behalf of our country,” said John Gonsalves, President and Founder of Homes for Our Troops. “Build Brigades are a great way for everyone in the community to show their support for these brave American heroes.”
“The Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation is committed to giving back in the communities where we live and work,” said Stephan Shelton, Co-Chair of the Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation. We are proud to partner with Homes for Our Troops to provide Army SSG Dwayne Cole with a barrier free home adapted to meet his specific needs. He is a true American hero.”
Homes for Our Troops has completed 50 specially adapted homes since its inception in 2004. Currently there are 32 homes in various stages of construction throughout the United States. The financial support from organizations like the Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation and volunteer commitment from General Contractor Steve Thomas significantly decreases building time by 25 percent, from ground breaking to the presentation of the keys taking approximately six months. The average cost of each home, depending on location is approximately $275,000. All homes are presented to the veteran at no cost.
About Homes for Our Troops
Homes for Our Troops is a national non-profit 501(c) 3 organization based in Taunton, MA founded by John Gonsalves in 2004. Homes for Our Troops’ mission is to build specially adapted homes for severely injured veterans who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. All specially adapted homes are built at no cost to the veteran thanks to donations from thousands of individuals, foundation grants, corporate sponsors, professional tradespeople and generous support from countless volunteers.
Homes for Our Troops is proud to be listed in the American Institute of Philanthropy’
About the Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation
The Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation brings together a wide network of stakeholders, including Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins franchisees, crew members and employees, to support those who serve in our communities. The focus of the Foundation is emergency response organizations and child-related causes. The goal of the Foundation is to help ensure that those heroes we depend on during a disaster have what they need to rise to any occasion, and to make a positive impact on the lives of children in the communities that we serve. To learn more about the Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation, please visit www.dunkinbrands.com/
