Helping Vets ‘Any Way We Can’
Posted for GTMR, Inc.
Pax Leader
When Patuxent Habitat for Humanity broke ground on its first veterans home repair project Jan. 6, a significant portion of the audience gathered for the ceremony was composed of the staff of Leonardtown-based contractor GTMR Inc.
GTMR president Jim Morton and CEO Bill Battaglia closed up shop and brought their entire staff to Mechanicsville to witness the event.
“It is important to all of us at GTMR to support our veterans,” Morton said. “The majority of our employees are veterans, so this hits close to him for many of us at GTMR. We are very serious about taking care of those who we served with and have followed us into military service of this great country.”
GTMR is one of several local contractors who gave money to augment a Home Depot grant that will allow Patuxent Habitat, a Lexington Park non-profit organization, to undertake as many as 10 repair efforts for veterans as part of the Gary Senese Memorial Veterans Repair Corps project, named in honor of one of the group’s most active volunteers.
GTMR joins several local firms, such as Wyle Aerospace and the Great Mills Trading Post.
“We need to take care of our veterans anyway we can,” Morton said.
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Patuxent Habitat for Humanity is now accepting applications from low to moderate income veterans to remodel and renovate their homes. Projects that will be funded include interior or exterior work performed to alleviate critical health, life and safety issues or code violations. Each award will be up to $10,000.
Repair Corps grants will pay for needed home repairs from insulation and weather stripping to the installation of wheelchair ramps and renovated bathrooms and doorways to accommodate disabled veterans. Larger repairs such as roofing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and structural improvements will also be available. The program is designed under the same model as new homes built for Habitat families where the veteran will repay the zero interest loan necessary for these repairs, which is then deposited into a revolving fund to assist additional families in need of decent housing. The amount to be repaid will be on a sliding scale based on family income.
Veterans who have received an honorable or general discharge are eligible to participate. Veterans that are residents of Calvert or St. Mary’s Counties that would like to participate in this program are encouraged to call 301-863-6227 or 410-326-9050 for more information. Applications will be accepted until Jan. 23, 2012.
