KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Korean war veteran and his wife are getting a home makeover they say they so desperately needed.
About 25 Home Depot volunteers spent Thursday drilling and hammering away, building a wheelchair ramp among other things.
“It’s almost like winning the lottery or something like that,” said the homeowner, Margaret Underwood.
The Home Depot store volunteers and HopeBUILDERS Home Repair spent the day on Thursday at Joe and Margaret Underwood’s home.
“Making our house like brand new again,” said Margaret.
“They’re doing a real nice thing for us,” added Joe.
The Underwoods have lived in their house for about 40 years.
“We stay here, the two of us,” Margaret said.
“I was with the marines,” said Joe, who is a Korean War veteran.
He has Alzheimer’s and uses a wheelchair to get around.
“Our activities are fairly limited,” said Margaret.
The volunteers are cleaning gutters, doing landscaping, but most importantly building a wheelchair ramp for Mr. Underwood because right now he can’t get outside without it.
“Oh yeah, excited about getting outside,” said Joe.
“We can’t get out to the car right now so, I think I can get him in the wheelchair and roll him out there and if we can get in the car I can take him to all kinds of places,” said Margaret.
“We’re providing a way that he can get out and about in the community,” said Kevin Trembly with the Home Depot.
He says they contacted several veteran organizations looking for someone in need.
“Home Depot is trying to affect 350 veterans’ homes this year between September 11 and November 11,” said Trembly, which is Veteran’s Day.
Mr. Underwood was one of those 350 veterans chosen.
“Every year we choose one veteran in Kansas City and really try to help them,” Trembly said.
Both Margaret and Joe say they’re extremely grateful.
“Oh, I’m impressed,” said Joe. “I didn’t think they’d be able to do it with all that rain, but they did a perfect job.”
“I can’t even believe this is true, I feel like I’m in a dream or I wake up and this never happened,” said Margaret. “I wish I could give them a big pot of chili and maybe fix them some coffee but they won’t take it.”
Margaret says she’s looking forward to being able to take her husband out and about.
