Two Jefferson City veterans were the recipients Saturday of community support through charitable acts. The veterans' needs were met thanks to a coordinated effort led by local veteran advocate Pat Kerr.
Construction sounded Saturday morning at the home of Gary and Judy White as volunteers from Wesley Methodist Church Men's Group starting removing bedroom and bathroom door frames. Gary White, a Vietnam War-era veteran, is wheelchair bound after years of health complications. His doors needed to be widened so those rooms are more easily accessible.
Gary enlisted in the Army and entered basic training in 1967. Later that year, he entered the Army Military Police academy, and his job in Army security eventually took him to Ethiopia. He left the Army in 1970 - five years before the end of the Vietnam War. After returning to the United States, Gary worked several jobs and suffered from a slipped disk in his back.
"I haven't been right since," he said.
His legs later went out in 2006, and he received a heart valve transplant four years later. His wife Judy and 11-year-old grandson, Blake Lansford, have been his biggest supporters throughout his physical struggles.
"If it wasn't for those two, nothing would get done," he said.
Gary's home is not handicap accessible, which is a challenge considering he is unable to lift his legs to get into the bathtub. All that will change in a month or less when Missouri ReBath finishes replacing the combination bathtub-shower with an accessible shower. He said the Veteran's Administration gave him a $2,000 grant for the bathroom remodel.
Ron Hansen, one of four men from the church volunteering, said when Kerr asked for help, their "yes" response was a no brainer. Hansen said their ministry is about serving needs of others.
"Basically, we feel like we are Christ's hands and feet," he said.
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Kindness abounded Saturday as another Jefferson City veteran and his family received much needed assistance in back-to-school preparation.
Howard and Amy Rector met representatives of the 40&8, a subgroup of the American Legion, at the Columbia Walmart on Saturday and purchased back-to-school supplies and clothing for their children, ages 8 and 12.
"They're getting things that we've always wanted to give them but haven't recently been able to provide," Amy said.
Howard, a Marine Corps veteran, was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis 20 years ago, a condition that eventually left him unable to work and dependant on benefits. He also developed rheumatoid arthritis, leaving him unable to grab anything for some time.
Recently, he said life has been a "whirlwind" for his family.
In the recent past, the Rectors, who previously owned their own home, have moved between various living situations. They moved in with friends who were also facing financial struggles. That living situation eventually turned bad, and they needed to leave. From there, they lived in a Salvation Army homeless shelter, a tent, a van and a California, Missouri, hotel with help from a Methodist Church in the area. With the assistance from a Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital housing program, they were able to move into a fully-furnished Jefferson City home.
"We went from buying our own house and living there for 15 years to being homeless and being in transition for the past six years," Howard said. "This is the first time we've actually settled down and started recovering."
According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, about 12 percent of homeless adults are veterans. The organization also states another 1.4 million veterans are at-risk to be homeless due to poverty, lack of support networks, and overcrowded or substandard housing.
"I don't know how to fix the problem," Howard said. "I didn't know there was one. Until I became a statistic, I wasn't aware."
Howard credited Kerr for connecting them with proper resources, including the Veteran's Administration. Now, the family is seeing doctors again, and Howard said he's thankful to be seeing a counselor.
"God is good, and second chances are rare, so we're grateful," he said.
When the Rectors moved into their home, there was a surplus of donated furniture. Donors have given permission for items to be sold at a garage sale starting at 7:30 a.m. Aug. 1 at 322 Boonville Road. All proceeds will go to replacing the Rector's old van they purchased for $400. Other garage sale items will benefit a female homeless veteran, who is a mother of three.
For more information, contact Kerr at 573-462-9531.