Charles County Commissioners Wayne Cooper and Samuel N. Graves, Jr., sign tee-shirts and signs for Michael White, Sr. (far right) at the recent โ€œHeroes at Home Projectโ€ in Waldorf.

Charles County Commissioners Wayne Cooper and Samuel N. Graves, Jr., honored Michael White, Sr., at the recent โ€œHeroes at Homeโ€ project in Waldorf. White, a 23-year-veteran of both the U.S. Army and Air Force, suffers from a debilitating spine disease and two types of cancer, and has been unable to navigate his wheelchair or climb stairs at his Waldorf home.

Since March, โ€œHeroes at Home,โ€ a joint effort between Sears Holding Corp. and Rebuilding Together (formerly the national Christmas in April), has been working with the local chapter of Christmas in April, local contractor Tina Lohr of S.D. Lohr Custom Homes, and area subcontractors to renovate White’s home, building a first-floor bedroom, a deck, and a handicapped-accessible bathroom.

โ€œI’m extremely happy that we were able to get Mike the help he needed,โ€ said Commissioner Graves, who heads up many local Christmas in April charitable projects.ย  โ€œI’m also appreciative of the way all
of the organizations and contractors worked together to make this dream come true,โ€ Graves said.
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White commented that he felt very fortunate to have been selected by the program.ย  โ€œI only ask that you not forget the other men and women who come home every day.ย  They need your support and prayers too,โ€ he added.

Through the joint programs, 9,000 U.S. veterans’ homes were modified in 2007.ย  Another 200 are to be renovated before the end of 2008.ย  In-store fund raising at Sears stores has brought in about $5 million for the building program.

For information on this initiative, call 1 (800) REHAB-9.