The Clearwater American Legion Riders and the Home Depot in Monticello are working together to help veterans.

 

Last week, volunteers from the Riders and Home Depot did a variety of home improvements for Clearwater Veteran Allen Newman.

 

The project began with the help of Clearwater Legion Rider Bud Schindele, who also works at the Home Depot.

 

“The manager of Home Depot in Monticello came to me knowing I work with veterans and asked me if I knew a veteran who might be in need if a home project,” said Schindele.

 

He went back to the Legion and talked with the Legion Commander, then discussed it with the Legion Riders and mentioned to other businesses and organizations in the community.

 

“We came up with a few names. We went through them decided Allen Newman was the best candidate,” he said. “He was an active member in the Legion.”

 

Schindele says they went through Newman’s home to see what types of issues it had. As the first project, Leroy Ergen volunteered to install carpet in one of the bedrooms.

 

Last week, volunteers from the Riders spent one afternoon and evening moving furniture into a trailer to clear the rooms for new flooring.

 

Thursday, volunteers from the Home Depot began installing plank flooring throughout the home.

 

Schindele says they’ll also be painting the walls, installing blinds or shades, building a deck and installing new windows once the weather improves.

 

He says Home Depot has done projects for veterans before, but this is the first time he’s been involved.

 

“I’m going to be more active with it. I’m into helping veterans,” he said. “I know the American Legion Riders are  going to work with Home Depot on more of these projects.”

 

Newman served more than nine years in the service, including seven years in Europe, a year in Vietnam and was active during the Berlin crisis and Cuban crisis.

 

He was a carpenter for 35 years and has lived in Clearwater all that time.

 

“This house wasn’t even livable when I got it. My boys and I refurbished it,” he said. “We updated the electric, put on new siding, tore down the old barn and built this workshop.”

 

Newman used to design and built curved staircases  before his health declined and his knees went bad. He still does projects, like the bookcase/wall unit he was building last week. But he’s glad for the work the volunteers were doing.

 

“It’s just amazing,” he said.