Now, a group of men and women stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base along with the Fuller Center for Housing NWLA have returned the favor by repairing the 90-year-old veteran’s home.

Volunteers showed up to his Broadmoor neighborhood home early Saturday morning. Prior to their arrival, Lee Jeter, Director of the Fuller Center, said they received a $1,700 donation from a local church to get the project going.

Not only was the entire house painted, but Jeter said they had carpentry work done on it as well.

The group took a break just a few hours into the day to show Vaccaro just what they had already accomplished. As he slowly made his way outside, Vaccaro was greeted by applause by two dozen airmen and volunteers.

Vaccaro didn’t speak many words, but it was clear from the smile on his face that he was grateful and appreciative for their work.

“He is a very humble person,” Jeter said.

Staff Sergeant David Jordan said it was worth the effort to help a fellow veteran out.
“It’s worth it when people notice that you take pride in your work,” Jordan said. “He has definitely impacted our lives so it’s an honor to help him out.”
WW2vet1

Airmen First Class Jeffrey Hairston was quick to sign up for the project. Though he’s done many volunteer projects before, Hairston said this one hits closer to home.

“What this guy has done for our country, I feel like this is the least we can do,” Hairston said.

According to their website, the Fuller Center for Housing NWLA is a non-profit organization relies on community donations and volunteers. It was founded in 2005 to solve the housing crisis created in Shreveport by the influx of Hurricane Katrina evacuees and has expanded to serve the entire Northwest Louisiana region.

For more information, call (318) 221-7474 or visit www.fullercenternwla.org

Amanda Crane Bossierpress.com – Tuesday, 16 August 2011 09:34

SHREVEPORT, La. — Volunteers from Barksdale Air Force Base spent the better part of their morning painting the house of 90-year-old World War II veteran Frank Vaccaro of Shreveport.

View Video – Click Here

Volunteers from Barksdale were contacted by the Fuller Center for Housing of Northwest Louisiana earlier and were more than a dozen responded to the plea in honor of Vaccaro who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. “Mr. Frank is a 90-year-old World War Two veteran and it was brought to our attention that he needed some exterior paint to his house,” said Lee Jetter of the Fuller Center. “But when Mr. Frank was brought to our attention and because of the services sacrificed that he had made. We said we are going to do this project and we will find the funding,” added Jetter.

A donation from a local church in the amount of $1,700 was all it took to get the ball rolling for paint, tools, and other equipment for the project.

The Fuller Center to date has done 53 projects similar to this since 2006.

If you are interested in helping the Center, you can contact them at: 318-221-7474

KTBS News

“The floors are cracked,” said Brazile. “We have holes in the walls. The doors aren’t even with the thing so a lot of wind comes through and we don’t have any source of heat except the stove and a couple electric heaters.”

Just last week an anonymous good Samaritan learned about Brazile’s situation and called Shreveport police hoping to help.

“Most people call to put people down but they were concerned enough to try to get some help and not try to hurt me,” said Brazile. “I’m overwhelmed.”

Shreveport Police Department Corporal Mike Dunn and Sandra Lister went to work.

“When I called businesses some of them I didn’t tell what I wanted I just told them I had a family I wanted them to meet and when they came out they felt compelled to do it for me,” said Lister.

Within days help poured in. Wilbert Williams with Mt. Mariah Baptist Church will donate $500.00. Calvin and Delores Johnson’s Motorcycle Club will donate a sink and a monetary gift. Richard Rascoe with the Whitlock Plumbing Company will complete all of Brazile’s plumbing work for free.

“If you come to our church and say you need help we will open our doors and our hearts because that’s what Jesus did,” said Williams.

“Some have and some have not,” said Johnson. “It’s always been a close thing to our hearts to help put back into the community.”

“I want to get everything going for her and take care of those little ones and be able to clean up,” said Rascoe.

The outpouring of love is a Christmas miracle Brazile never thought she would receive.

“If I thanked them all day and all night and all month and all year it really wouldn’t be enough,” said Brazile.

C.J. Enterprises has donated $1000.00 to the Brazile family and challenges other businesses to do the same.

The future is looking even brighter for Brazile and her children. Shreveport’s Fuller Center for Housing is currently helping Brazile apply for a brand new home through its program.

© Amber Miller /KTAL

Through this initiative FCNWLA has rehabilitated a number of homes in Allendale and the surrounding area.These rehabs are done in partnership with businesses and churches and can include such work as roofing, painting, plumbing and other general repairs.

Recent rehab projects and partnerships include the 315 N. Allen Ave. home of Helen Clark – Community Renewal International in partnership with Honeywell Corporation; the 1834 Garden St. home of Carrie Brayboy – Chesapeake Energy; and the Etta Williams home at 121 Leroy St. – Eldorado
Casino.

In addition students from the Huntington High School shop class built a ramp for Effie Romby at 1928 Ford Street. Job Corps members and other volunteers also painted her house.

From June 14-20, 75 people from the Central Texas Methodist Conference performed approximately 2,250 hours of service at 19 different sites, which included rehab on 10 homes, the YWCA and four Volunteer of America sites.

The group of 45 youth and 30 adults, divided into nine teams, also built four
wheelchair ramps. Noel United Methodist Church housed the participants
while they were in the area.

“We would like to give thanks to our many partners and to the Central Texas
Conference for their recent mission trip to Shreveport and the impact that their service had on our community,” said Lee Jeter, FCNWLA director. “OYEE, our community partners!”

FCNWLA screens rehab applicants as they do applicants for new houses. Owners of renovated homes receive “Greater Blessings” boxes which contain envelopes addressed to FCNWLA to be used for love offerings to help bless other families.

“We are trying to get local churches to recommend people whose homes need rehab work,” Jeter said. “We want to help those who are unable to help themselves.”