Wounded Veterans Raise the Roof

EFLAND, N.C., April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- John Heywood did not create the phrase "many hands make light work," but he did contextualize the proverb in 1546 along with many others. Regardless of the phrase's origin, its meaning holds true when a group of Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) Alumni volunteers joined Habitat for Humanity^® to construct a new home for a deserving family.

U.S. Army veteran and WWP Alumnus, Phil Hanback, had a good reason to be a first-time volunteer for the WWP event with Habitat for Humanity. "I wanted to be in on this project with WWP because it involved giving back to the community."

Many wounded service members face similar challenges adjusting to their injuries and civilian life. By bonding at events like this, wounded veterans learn they are not alone. The WWP Alumni program is one of 20 direct programs and services offered at no cost to wounded service members, their caregivers, and families.

"I really liked meeting the families that were being served through the Habitat for Humanity program, and thought it was pretty cool working side by side with them on their houses," Phil said.

Part of the Habitat for Humanity program involves new homeowners dedicating hundreds of their own labor hours, called sweat equity, working alongside volunteers to complete their future home and also towards houses for other Habitat homeowners.

On this day, WWP Alumni and other volunteers had the option to work either a morning or afternoon session, but many stayed for the entire day, donating their time at two locations. The group started the day's mission with framing and building walls for a new home before heading towards another construction site to work on exterior siding.

"I helped build a wall from frame to finish, starting with framing and insulating, to erecting and setting it in place," Phil said. "I also worked to finish siding on one side of another house."

A BBQ lunch allowed the group of wounded veterans to enjoy camaraderie and the sunshine during their limited downtime. The WWP Alumni program creates support through shared experiences and brings injured veterans together to bond. In this case, WWP Alumni experienced together the fulfillment that comes from knowing you've done something good for someone else.

More than 100,000 wounded veterans, caregivers, and family members receive access to WWP programs and services, all of which are free of charge.

Most recently, WWP launched Warrior Care Network™, a $100 million investment to battle the invisible wounds of war and reach those who might otherwise go untreated. This is a first-of-its-kind partnership between WWP and four national academic medical centers of excellence including Emory Healthcare, Massachusetts General Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, and UCLA Health to connect thousands of injured warriors with world-class care.

In March alone, WWP served 29,573 wounded veterans through one or more of the WWP program pillars of body, mind, economic empowerment, and engagement. For more information on WWP programs and services, visit https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/programs.

About Wounded Warrior Project
The mission of Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. The WWP purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.

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SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project