We have again partnered with Home Depot (HD) to complete a project for a veteran in the valley funded by a generous donation from the Home Depot Foundation. Project planner and HD Assistant Manager, Mick Ball, put together a well versed and experienced team of 6 volunteers to tackle this project to repair and expand a deck for a Korean War veteran in Cashmere. On October 24-25, our VFW volunteers joined them to complete this mission. The weather showed us some mercy by providing blue skies and sunshine, even if it was freezing first thing in the morning.

Our primary goal starting out each day was to make sure the coffee was hot and donuts were available when the volunteers showed up by 8 am. Our VFW helped where ever we could lend a hand, which meant helping with cutting lumber to size and acting as “Gofer” for the real professionals at this job. I will say (Auxiliary member) Louisa jumped right in and was running a screw gun to get the decking installed! On both days, the Auxiliary provided a hot lunch of fried chicken and a couple different salads to keep the entire team happy and fueled for their afternoon push.

By 3 pm on the second day of construction, the team had completed the project and presented the new deck to the veteran for his approval, for which he was very grateful and appreciative. We still have an additional small job to repair his irrigation system, but that will have to wait until next Spring when the temperatures are warmer.

Special thanks to Team HD and our VFW & Auxiliary volunteers: Steve & Dee Johnson, Steve Vaughan, Louisa Johnson, Jim Reece, Jerry England, Brad & Kim Pieratt, and special supervisor, Auxiliary member Hal Hawley, who came out to inspect the final product on Friday afternoon.