Helping Homebound Heroes Grant Program
Meals on Wheels America (MOWA) is in more than one million homes daily working to address the issues that seniors face in their homes: hunger, isolation, and accessibility.
Through a partnership with The Home Depot Foundation, the MOWA Helping Homebound Heroes Grant Program addresses the critical home repair and modification needs of U.S. military veterans.
In 2020 the Fairbanks Senior Center’s Helping Hands Home Modification Program was generously awarded the Helping Homebound Heroes Grant to help our local Senior Veterans with home modifications to help our heroes age safely at home.
We are honored to have been able to give back to these amazing heroes.
Helping Homebound Heroes – June 2020
Randy served four years in the Navy as a Communications and Intelligence Specialist. Originally from Florida, Randy moved to Fairbanks for a change of pace and scenery. However, the home that he settled in did not have a railing on the exterior stairs, and the steps were narrow, steep, and awkward, which led to more than a couple of tumbles. Navigating the steps during winter with snow was especially dangerous and precarious, and left him often wanting to not even leave his home.
Being on a fixed income, Randy reached out to the Fairbanks Senior Center’s Helping Hands Home Modifications Program for help. Once the repair crew arrived, they determined that it wasn’t only new steps and a handrailing that he needed, but an entirely new deck as well. The scope of this project would have reached beyond Randy’s means, and he doesn’t know how he would have made the repairs without the Helping Homebound Heroes grant program.
The new porch, stairs, and railing have increased his safety and accessibility to his home. Even with his mobility challenges, he no longer has anxiety about his ability to leave his home. Now Randy is able to enjoy the sunshine and sit with his friends on his new deck. He is grateful to Meals on Wheels America and The Home Depot Foundation for helping guys like him who have served, feel safer in their homes.
Helping Homebound Heroes – July 2020
Special thanks to our Volunteers!