As many of you are aware I keep saying donate locally if you want to help Veterans. The local VFW, American Legion and Operation Support Our Troops America are a few groups that come to mind.
(In fact, OSOT’s biggest fundraiser, Rockin’ for the Troops, is Sat., July 14. Find info at www.osotamerica.org.)
These are just some that I have worked with over the years and I know that they do good things for Veterans, their families and active duty troops. Several other groups locally do great work, too. That being said, there is one group that I have worked with and know that they put smiles on the faces of Veterans and their families. That group is Naperville Responds For Veterans. Their website is www.NRFOV.org. Below is their mission statement.
Naperville Responds for Veterans (NRFV) assists Veterans and their families in need, especially those with low and moderate income, by raising donations of money, building materials, and professional labor, and coordinating the process of repairing, building, and donating homes. Naperville Responds for Our Veterans is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that provides services to Veterans in need and those in crisis.
The main reason I am focusing on Naperville Responds is that many people know about the organization locally, but in their area of operations a great majority of people and organizations don’t know about it. The operation area is a 20-mile radius of Naperville, which takes in most of DuPage County and parts of Will, Kane, Cook and Kendall Counties.
The group responds primarily to health and safety issues in the homes of low to moderate income Veterans and their families. NRFV provide ramps, retrofit bathrooms and have repaired or put new roofs on homes. They have put in new driveways due to safety issues as well as major and minor home repairs.
My wife and I have attended several Veteran Resource Fairs over the last three years and it is very moving when a Veteran or family member comes up with tears in their eyes talking about how Naperville Responds for Veterans has improved their quality of life.
Check out the website to see some of the projects they have completed. If you know of a Veteran who needs home repairs have them contact Naperville Responds at (331) 684-7899 or info@nrfov.org.
Naperville Responds for Veterans is helping to maintain the independence of Veterans who have fought long and hard to protect our independence.
