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Creating a Connected Community
Creating a Connected Community
Mark the Date: 12/10/14!!!
Disability Connection is participating in Mississippi Gives Day! You will have 24 hours to give where you live! Please help spread the word and donate to help Disability Connection continue our mission of “Creating a Connected Community…”! The link below will take you directly to our page: https://mississippigives.org/c/MGD/a/disabilityconnection
MEET LIVE WITH RECRUITERS ONLINE • More than 81,000 veterans hired since September 2011 • Chat live with recruiters in their virtual booths • View/apply for jobs in real time • Win great prizes like IPad and Visa gift cards
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) – A Navy veteran was moved to tears Monday when volunteers showed up at his home on 36th Street in Gulfport. John Walker desperately needed a wheelchair ramp for his wife, who’s coming home from the hospital in a few days. He didn’t ask for help. But several organizations decided to team-up to get the project rolling. Volunteers unloaded a pile of lumber as they prepared for a project that will take several days. Mr. John Walker didn’t expect to see the outpouring of support. “Oh, it’s great!” he said with a big smile. His wife of more than 50-years, Kathleen, recently broke her leg. Realizing she needed a wheelchair ramp, the 85-year old man decided to build one himself. “To get her inside easier, and I was even going to put a chain to it to pull it in,” said Walker. The Retired Senior Volunteer Program of Harrison County (RSVP) heard about Mr. Walker’s situation and contacted Disability Connection. “We came and inspected it and it did not look like it was as safe as it should be. It did not look like it would survive long term, so we agreed to basically start over and give him a fresh brand, new ramp,” said Disability Connection Executive Director Janie O’Keefe. The Home Depot donated the materials. Volunteers, like U.S. Army Specialist Kegan Wood, signed-up to help. Disability Connection also offers emergency home repairs and home weatherization for veterans, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and low-income families. Veterans get priority. For more information, you can call the organization at (228) 604-4020 or (228) 870-7775.
The Dave Flowers Foundation was established for the purpose of providing critical support to veterans underserved by current public and private veteran support programs.
The Dave Flowers Foundation is focused primarily on veterans of WWII, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam Conflict. The service area of the foundation will be the three coastal counties of Mississippi.
“Although great emphasis has been placed on post service care for those detached from military service since Desert Storm there is a large and woeful gap between the services provided to veterans exiting military service today and the services provided to veterans of less recent wars and conflicts. Compounding the services gap is the reluctance of older veterans to ask for help; even when desperately needed. This unwillingness stems from pride, perception, and past poor experiences with veterans support organizations.The Dave Flowers foundation will help veterans overcome both real and perceived obstacles and will deliver services where gaps exist. The Dave Flowers Foundation will identify veterans of historical conflicts and war, assess their needs, and work to fulfill those needs. Services provided will include financial support for critical needs, assistance with identifying available resources, helping veterans in utilizing existing resources, and providing a helping hand with critical projects. This country owes these veterans a great debt.
The Dave Flowers Foundation mission is to ensure all veterans within our region of influence receive the care and respect they deserve.”
To read more about Dave’s story and about this wonderful organization, visit www.DaveFlowersFoundation.org
