President of Homes For Our Troops
Left to Right, Kirk Lantier, Sean Henderson, Ammon Lang, Kiri Lang, Sandra Hixson-Matthews, and Timothy McHale, President of Homes For Our Troops
Posted: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 10:38 am
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Updated: 10:40 am, Tue Apr 30, 2013.
VoiceoftheValley.com
Incoming president, Sean Henderson and past president Kirk Lantier were among those who helped to welcome a young family to the state of Washington on Saturday, April 27th in Port Angeles. Marine Cpl Ammon Lang, his wife Kiri and their two young sons will be moving to our state as soon as their special home is completed. The home is special because it will be a single story specially adapted home built for the Langs with features designed to meet Ammon’s specific needs. Cpl Lang has specific needs due to injuries he suffered while serving in Afghanistan on June 11, 2011 when he stepped on an undetected IED, resulting in the traumatic amputation of his left leg above the knee and the eventual surgical amputation of his right leg below the knee.
What does this have to do with Maple Valley Rotary you ask. Well, for that we need to go back about a year. Maple Valley Rotary holds an annual action in the late fall. The proceeds of this auction are what fund most of the works of the club throughout the year. There is a special auction item every year which we call the “Fund a Need”. The fund a need item is carefully chosen and presented during the live auction as a paddle item, meaning that attendees simply raise their bidding paddles to donate funds designated specifically for that item. The incoming president is always the auction chair and when Sean Henderson asked members for ideas for his fund a need, Rotarian Storm McNeil, himself a retired Marine, reached out to three agencies who had programs to help our wounded veterans. He connected with an agency called Homes for Our Troops who work with donors, sponsors, and volunteers to build special homes for veterans who return home with severe, life changing injuries received in the line of duty. When Storm got Jennifer Reed of Homes for Our Troops on the phone and explained that Maple Valley Rotary was looking for a project to support, her response was that they had just identified a soldier for the next house and that he had just chosen Washington state. When he took the recommendation back to the auction committee, it was immediately approved and thanks to our generous donors, we raised $22,950.00 specifically for the outfitting of the kitchen in the home. Maple Valley Rotary was the first financial donor to the project. In addition to the fund a need proceeds, Ken and Cheryl Dunham are donating the sheet rock and installation for the home, Malone’s nursery are donating the landscaping, and Sam and Shelley Emmons are donating a play system for the yard.
Yesterday was the ground breaking ceremony in Port Angeles where the home will be built. Each of these homes cost approximately $400,000.00 so the fund raising to finish is not complete. If you would like to donate dollars or in-kind items, please contact me at fbtdra9@aol.com and I will put you in touch with the right people. Maple Valley Rotary can accept donations earmarked for this or any other project by simply stating where you want your donation to go. You can also find out more about this project at www.homesforourtroops.org.
The fund a need item has been identified for our upcoming auction on October 19th. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend, and stay tuned for more information.
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Rotary
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Tuesday, April 30, 2013 10:38 am.
Updated: 10:40 am.
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