The men and women who risk their lives for our country are an integral part of the community. Veterans face many challenges when they return home from service, and showing them support is essential to help them reintegrate into civilian life. In Central Florida, several local nonprofit organizations help veterans to reacclimate, as well as to celebrate their heroism during and after service—and it’s easy to get involved with them. Each organization has its own niche that contributes to a unified humanitarian effort to serve those who have served the United States.

Building Homes for Heroes

There is a great deal of uncertainty for those who enlist, including once they return home. Devastatingly, even after risking their lives and sustaining injuries overseas, military men and women and their families may not have sustainable housing. Building Homes for Heroes works to alleviate the stress of finding adequate shelter so veterans can focus on their families and their health instead.

“One particular veteran that we gave a home to in Orlando eight years ago … I got to tell him that he was going to get a home,” says Kim Valdyke, director of construction. “And when I told him he almost fell on the floor; he was crying. But one of the things about this veteran is he could barely speak, his PTSD had given him a speech impediment and he could barely even thank me. So we renovated his home, and we always keep in contact, but I’d say maybe a year later, he came to an event with me to receive a check from Tijuana Flats … and he was talking and speaking and smiling at me and I went, ‘Oh my gosh, you don’t have a speech impediment anymore.’ He says, ‘Nope, getting my home and continuing my therapy has given me a new life, and I am not as stressed and I can talk now.’ And it just blew me away the impact that giving him a home had on his life.”

Building Homes for Heroes was founded by Andy Pujol, whose mission was inspired by the first responders he worked alongside during recovery efforts in Sept. 11’s immediate aftermath. One of their annual initiatives lies in the 11 weeks between 9/11 and Veterans Day, in which one home is gifted every 11 days, called The 11/11 Pledge. In fact, many of their efforts are symbolic, including the FDNY 343 Ride in honor of the 343 firefighters who lost their lives that day. In a truly full-circle event, Building Homes for Heroes plans to gift their 343rd home to an injured veteran who is the son of a 9/11 firefighter and first responder.

In partnering with corporations such as Chase, Lowe’s and Advance Auto Parts, Building Homes for Heroes takes care of the construction of homes, amenities and the financial burden. Members of the community are encouraged to volunteer with painting, landscaping and showing support during the ceremonies. In using local licensed and insured contractors, veterans are guaranteed to have safe and secure homes—something that senior communications manager David Weingrad says benefits both veterans and the local economy. And a strengthened affinity among veterans, their families and their communities is a major step toward healing and habituation.

“The transition from military life to civilian life is just something that I don’t think the typical person understands. They come from that universe where they have that amazing camaraderie and it’s just what they know and then they come home. There just aren’t enough resources for them. The outpouring of support that we show just really—we hear it all the time—it just reminds them that there are so many people out there who really do appreciate all that they did for our country,” Weingrad says.

“When [injured veterans] get out of the hospital, they have to try and re-establish ties to their community … and that puts a lot of pressure on the veteran to see that they’re providing for their family and keeping their families safe. It was making veterans struggle even harder, and by giving them a mortgage-free forever home, we take that off of their plate. They know that their family is secure, they know that they are safe, and then they can continue with their recovery and road to well-being,” adds Valdyke.

Honor Flight Central Florida

Honor Flight operates across the country and transports veterans to the memorials that honor them. While some chapters are just a bus ride away from Washington, D.C., Honor Flight Central Florida organizes plane rides for a minimum of 75 to 100 veterans a year, as well as commemorative reunions from the trip a few weeks later.

Co-chairs Kaye and Landy Dunham, who are veterans themselves, both have fathers who served in Vietnam. In particular, support for Vietnam veterans and giving them the recognition they deserved decades ago is what drew them to the cause.

“For some of our veterans, the best part of the day is that end of the day when they get to come off the flight and have a crowd cheering for them,” says Kaye.

“I had one Vietnam vet come to me … and he just raised his hand and gave me a high five. He said, ‘I had to wait over 40-something years for this doggone welcome home, but it was worth it,’” adds Landy.

In addition to the necessity of volunteers to act as guardians for veterans making the trip, members of the community are encouraged to greet them and to write/collect letters that thank them for their service. The veterans receive them in a “mail call” at the end of the trip.

“That’s the most touching moment of the entire flight, where you see tears rolling as they read their letters on the plane,” says Landy.

The surprises don’t end there, as each group is met with a uniquely memorable experience.

The veterans make a detour to The Women In Military Service For America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, which includes a personalized commemoration for the women veterans in the group with certificates.

“This last time was super cool: We had one of our veterans who had been in a particular group in the Coast Guard … and one of the displays that happened to be the big display for the month was her unit that she had been in. It’s just always so, so great, the little things that happen that you don’t really plan,” says Kaye.

Honor Flight Central Florida also hosts a fundraiser event that the Dunhams call “one of the most patriotic events in Central Florida.” During Hot Rods for Heroes every March, there is an extravagant display of support from the community including what they say is a “whole army of folks” cheering and waving American flags.

“[One Marine] had the most amazing crowd of park rangers and historians and kids and you name it, just all around them, trying to take photos with them. So he became a celebrity for that day,” says Landy.

Just Our Soldiers’ Helpers

Founded in 2011, Just Our Soldiers’ Helpers [JOSH] ships care packages to the most remote military locations. After discovering just how isolated the location was where her nephew, Josh, was stationed, founder Kathy Hewitt began to send him extra care packages at Firebase Wilderness. Since they do not have a PX (base exchange) or any kind of store, all kinds of products were in demand. For service members who are on lengthy 12- to 14-hour missions, high nutritional value food products are preferred.

“We ship two different types of packages: We ship either food or hygiene. We don’t mix them because when my nephew was deployed, he said that if they were mixed, they could sometimes taste funny,” says Hewitt.

There are volunteer opportunities in donating items for care packages, as well as during patriotic fundraising events like “Bingo for JOSH” on the second Tuesday of every month, and the upcoming “Red, White and Blues” gala with live music, food, auctions and an open bar. Hewitt says anything anyone can contribute is appreciated, including auction items. Local schools, too, can write letters and draw pictures that can be put inside the care packages.

“We have gotten to meet several of the service members we’ve supported. Three of them have actually come to my house after they’ve returned from deployment just to express their gratitude. But I think just getting emails from the troops that say how much a care package means when they’re serving so far away from home—that is golden,” Hewitt says.

Orlando Friends of Fisher House

An essential part of caring for veterans is supporting their families as well. At Orlando Fisher House, military families are provided free housing and amenities in walking distance while their loved one is treated at the Orlando VA Medical Center. The 16-suite home was built by the Fisher House Foundation, which aims to alleviate some of the incomprehensible anxiety that the families of veterans and military members face.

Maureen Karkovice, Orlando Friends of Fisher House president and a member of its board of directors, was inspired to get involved after witnessing Orlando Fisher House firsthand in North Carolina as a guest. Her son, an active duty Marine at the time, was diagnosed with Graves’ disease and thyroid cancer.

“Going back and forth from here [in Orlando] to Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, for doctor’s appointments for the knee surgeries … every time I went, I had to stay in a hotel. I’m a teacher … I had three [children] under 18, and he was only barely 20, and it just wiped my savings out,” says Karkovice.

She found out about the Fisher House through the Family Readiness Office and immediately felt welcomed.

“It saved me the cost of a hotel, it saved me trying to find food out, they had a laundry room so I could wash my clothes and they had meals that volunteers had made so I did not have to worry about anything except being there for my son,” she says.

Friends of Fisher House provides for those crucial elements, in addition to partnering with the community to advocate and to raise awareness. Karkovice’s son is currently serving alongside his mother on the board of directors. People who are in need of Fisher House’s support may not know about the organization, like Karkovice. And in some situations, veterans may not seek care for new or recurring conditions because of the financial burden it may have on their families.

“Maybe they have to come for care, but they have to come alone because they can’t afford that. And that’s detrimental to their recovery to be alone,” Karkovice says.

While the VA maintains the Fisher House, the Friends of Fisher House donate food, hygienic supplies and more. There is a wish list on their website for their current residents. Aside from physical donations, locals are welcome to donate their time by beautifying the yard and cooking meals.

“I get so excited being able to do this and being able to repay veterans, people who’ve chosen to protect and serve our country, and this is a way I can give something back to them. I think the kids need to see this is exciting. It’s not just a chore, you know, it’s something that feels good and is impactful,” she says.

“One of the things that is very disheartening is when I have to sit in front of a family and say there’s nothing we can do for your child. I would love to never have that conversation again,” she says.