The Homes for Our Troops charity picks up steam next month and again in August with completion of a finished home in Missouri and construction start-up in Oregon.
The Missouri Credit Union Association said this week it has already hit its $100,000 fundraising goal to finance a specially adapted home in Columbia for Staff Sgt. Robert Canine, who lost both legs below knee while serving in Iraq. A ceremony will be held June 26 for Sgt. Canine and his family.
And in Oregon, the $720 million Advantis CU said it plans to break ground in August to build adapted homes for injured Portland and Hood River war vets as part of its statewide fundraising campaign as coordinated by Homes for Our Troops of Taunton, Mass.
Advantis of Milwaukie, Ore. said it is sponsoring two homes and has a fundraising goal of $100,000 with $34,000 raised so far as the CU partners with local radio outlets for the drive lasting eight weeks. Advantis seeks to build homes for National Guard Staff Sgt. Christian Bagge in Parkdale and Army Specialist Kevin Pannell in Sandy.
And in Missouri, Rosie Holub, MCUA president/CEO, noted that "even in an economic downturn, the Missouri credit union community maintains its priority of helping others."
Sgt. Canine, she went on, "has sacrificed so much in our behalf and so this home will give Robert and his family much deserved comfort and stability."
"We look forward to presenting the keys to Robert on the 26th of June," said Holub.
