CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston veteran in need was the recipient of some help Thursday from the group Rebuilding Together.
The national organization has a chapter in Charleston. They’ve already tackled more than 150 projects around the area. But for Veteran’s Day, they wanted to extend their help to a former military member in need.
Rebuilding teamed up with Fifth-Third Bank as well as Christ Church United Methodist to assist retired Sgt. Barry Jackson, who served in the U.S. Army, part of that time during Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia.
Jackson, who is disabled, wasn’t able to make the improvements needed to his Hess Drive home. Rebuild Charleston stepped in. On Thursday more than two dozen volunteers descended on the property to make the necessary repairs.
Dayton Carpenter with Rebuilding Together said they want to make Jackson’s home as sound and cozy as possible.
“It’s somewhat of a, not an extreme home makeover, but an awesome makeover,” said Carpenter.
Hammers were banging away while new ceiling tiles went up. Carpenter said they started out replacing the furnace but the project became much more.
“We’re replacing all the windows with double-pane, energy efficient windows. We’ve also replaced all the carpet,” explained Carpenter.
Then there’s the new, sturdier handrails for the front steps, repairs to the back deck, mold remediation and a fresh coat of paint.
“It’s $16,000 in just materials. When you figure the labor and everything that’s going into it, the value to this house is about $25,000.”
And Sgt. Jackson doesn’t owe anyone anything. Carpenter stressed this is a gift from the community to a man who served his country honorably.
We’ll have more on Sgt. Jackson’s story coming up on Monday, Veterans Day.