With temperatures dropping, a team of volunteers gathered at Warman Woods, one of HVAF’s housing properties, for a winterization project to make sure previously homeless veterans living at HVAF’s supportive housing stay warm this winter.

The one-day project took place on Veterans Day. Heather Meiser, an HVAF volunteer, along with twenty-four incarcerated veterans from the Indianapolis Reentry Education Facility (IREF) and ten IUPUI students pitched in to winterize six housing units on the property. The volunteers worked on cleaning and calking windows along with other home winterizing duties.

“We knew weatherizing their homes was needed as part of “Phase I” of the Warman renovation project,” said Heather Meiser. “This will help the veterans fight off the cold winter weather.”

It also will help HVAF be the best steward of donor dollars by helping to reduce costs related to utility bills and freeing up funds for other programs, according to Ron Shelley, HVAF’s Chief Operating Officer.

Navy veteran Daryl Boyd along with HVAF staffers helped coordinate the volunteers with the Indianapolis Reentry Education Facility where he now works. Boyd was once homeless and came to HVAF in 2008 for help.

“I thought it was a good idea our incarcerated veterans to give back and help HVAF veterans on such a meaningful project,” says Daryl.

“These (IREF) men were excited to know that society still wants and needs them and that they can provide a service,” Daryl says. “They were excited to know people were taking in their efforts.”

Daryl Boyd says he hopes to continue to partner with HVAF on additional projects.

“It’s just a great way to help and give back to the veterans,” says John Wilkes, an Army veteran and IREF participant. “I’m happy to give back to the public instead of being a burden on society.”

Special thanks to these business and individuals:

Barto’s Catering & Concessions
Menards
Lowes
Lois Carnicom

If you’d like to help with the larger Warman renovation project, please contact Tina Shelley, HVAF Volunteer Coordinator at tshelley@hvaf.org or 317-951-0688.