In separate parts of the country, brigades of credit union volunteers are joining the Homes for Our Troops cause in bigger numbers this month spearheading a registration drive to sign up carpenters, contractors and roofers in Columbia, Mo.

Leaders of the Boston charity, which hooked up with CUNA two years ago at the GOP and Democratic Conventions to build adapted homes for injured war vets, were effusive this week with praise for the industry in garnering a big turnout for Missouri "HFOT Registration Day" to build a home for Staff Sgt. Robert Canine and for helping sponsor a similar "Volunteer Day" in December for Army SSG Michael Downing of Middleboro who lost both legs in Afghanistan.

"The community support and volunteerism from Missouri credit unions was phenomenal," declared Doreen Lewis, HFOT project coordinator who helped supervise the Jan. 28 "Registration Day" in conjunction with the Missouri Credit Union Association. MCUA managed to recruit more than 100 electricians, brick layers, painters and contractors to build Sgt. Canine's Columbia home.