In addition to the business dealings struck by manufacturers and attendees at the 2012 NWFA Wood Flooring Expo, there was one exhibitor searching for volunteers to help build homes for severely injured war veterans.
Log in to view the full article
In addition to the business dealings struck by manufacturers and attendees at the 2012 NWFA Wood Flooring Expo, there was one exhibitor searching for volunteers to help build homes for severely injured war veterans.
The mission for nonprofit Homes for Our Troops is to build ADA-compliant homes across the nation in which injured veterans can enjoy comfortable, independent living and, during the Expo, NWFA announced its support for the group. The homes it builds feature open floor plans, roll-in showers and roll-under cook tops and sinks, as well as smooth, sound and flat wood floors ideal for wheelchairs. Here's an overview of how the nonprofit works:
One company that has already contributed to Homes for Our Troops is HomerWood Hardwood Flooring Company (Titusville, Pa.), a subsidiary of Armstrong World Industries. Recently, HomerWood donated white oak flooring for the home built for SPC Rob Kislow, who in 2005 was injured while on a mission in the mountains of Afghanistan. During a firefight, Kislow was struck several times by enemy fire, resulting in the loss of his right leg and serious damage to his right arm. This video tells Kislow's full story:
The NWFA was made aware of Homes for Our Troops by Barbara Titus with Sheoga Hardwood Flooring & Paneling Inc. (Middlefield, Ohio). Sheoga has committed to helping Homes for Our Troops with five homes during the coming year.
During the Expo, two attendees were swayed by Homes for Our Troops' message-"Building Homes, Rebuilding Lives"-and donated prizes they won on the show floor. Jerry Kuehn with T & L Distributing LP (Houston) donated 200 square feet of wood flooring valued at about $1,000 that he won from W•D Flooring (Laona, Wis.). And Jerry Hogbin with Cochran's Lumber & Millwork Inc. (Berryville, Va.) donated 100 square feet of engineered wood flooring valued between $500 and $800 (depending on the species) that he won from Somerset Wood Products Inc. (Somerset, Ky.).
Today, the nonprofit, which builds most of its homes in the vicinity of military hospitals, is in the midst of its "100 More … Homes for Our Troops" campaign, and it is seeking corporate sponsors. According to Homes for Our Troops, benefits to partnering with the nonprofit include increased media exposure, access to military speakers and the right to use the Homes for Our Troops logo in marketing. "We have already begun receiving several inquiries from Expo exhibitors and attendees that want to help HFOT and our veterans," said Carlo Gaita, the nonprofit's corporate sponsorship manager.
For more videos featuring soldiers Homes for Our Troops has helped, see the group's YouTube page. To inquire about partnering with Homes for Our Troops, contact Gaita at [email protected] or (508) 823-3300, ext. 211.