You are Invited to

2024 Day of Service

Project Kick Off

Dear Volunteer-

Rebuilding Together-Atlanta is honored to partner with Lockheed Martin to provide veterans with critical home repairs and accessibility modifications that help keep them safe in their homes and communities. At Lockheed Martin, veterans are at the center of everything you do. 1 in 5 employees has served in uniform. Nationally, Rebuilding Together is partnering with Lockheed Martin, to provide home repairs and accessibility modification for neighbors in 8 communities across the country.

Rebuilding Together Atlanta is excited to to once again partner with Lockheed Martin to support the Veterans at Home Program and assist those that have our country safe. The program provides no-cost preventive home modifications and repairs to veterans and their families to improve safety and accessibility, increase independence and facilitate aging in place.

Rebuilding Together-Atlanta is thrilled you are volunteering with us. You will be supporting Mr. Kenneth Taylor, a Navy Veteran, who lives in Austell (Cobb County) Georgia.  Please join us on Friday April 5, 2024 for the Lockheed Martin Day of Service.

Meet the Homeowner

Kenneth Taylor

Mr. Taylor, 73, was born and grew up in Florida . He moved to Atlanta shortly after high school and has lived in his home since the late 60's (over 50 years). In January of 1971, he began a 6 year term of service with the Navy. He was stationed at the Naval Air Station in Fallon Nevada. His job was to fly in experimental planes during test flights. During one of these flights, the plane exploded and the pilot burned to death. Mr. Taylor was thrown far from the plane and suffered serious injuries that have lingered and greatly affected his life
 

After military services,Kenneth worked in the building trades industry. He lead window installation crews and at one time owned his own glasswork business. Mr. Taylor considers his most important role raising being a caregiver for his son.

Due to the plane accident, Mr. Taylor suffers from nerve damage (neuropathy) to his back, legs, knees, and feet. Due to the limited mobility, he uses two walking canes to get around and will need to start using a wheelchair within the next year.

Mr. Taylor's son lives with him, and Ken is his caregiver. His son is bedridden due to his medical conditions, and cannot get to a doctor's appointment without an ambulance. Navigating the frequent trips to and from the doctor's office cause Ken significant stress emotionally and physically due to his own struggles with mobility.

For years, Ken has been able to manage the repairs needed to his home. He has been able to make the needed modification to allow him to bathe safely. For years, he has been physically able to manage entering and leaving his home. However now the toll of injuries have caught up with him. He needs a ramp to be able to stay in his home.

Mr. Taylor lives on a limited income of social security and disability. By the end of the month, this only covers his basic living expenses.Ken wants to stay in his home and his community. He wants to be able to care for himself and his son. The only way for him to do this is to receive a ramp so that he can safely enter and exit his home without the fear of falling.

Lockheed Martin volunteers will help with removing clutter on the exterior of the home that are trip hazards, yard clean up, landscaping, exterior painting, and building a ramp from the front door. The house could also use power washing and exterior lighting improvements.  As volunteer, you will be helping Ken and his son maintain independences, help him age in places, improving their health and safety while making valuable home repairs.

After bravely serving his country, Ken hopes to be able to stay in his home and to care for his son. "I have lived in my home for over 50 years. I cannot imagine living any place else. Without a ramp, there is no way that I could stay in my home or be able to take care of my son. This project will improve my life one hundred thousand percent. I am so grateful for the generosity of Lockheed Martin and its extraordinary employees." 

Thank you for your time and commitment to Rebuilding Together Atlanta, and serving a veteran in need of home repairs. We look forward to seeing you on Friday April 5.

Please consider donating to help Ken, a Navy Veteran and others like him with needed home repairs. Each day, RTA gets a phone call from a homeowner in need and each day the waiting list gets longer. Together WE CAN IMPROVE the housing stock in the metro Atlanta area and provide veterans with the safe and healthy homes that they deserve.  All donations go directly to making home repairs to seniors and veterans in need living in the Atlanta metropolitan area. 

About Rebuilding Together-Atlanta 

• Rebuilding Together Atlanta part of a national network of more than 120 affilates  and the eading national nonprofit organization repairing the homes of people in need and revitalizing our communities.
• The work of Rebuilding Together makes homes safer and improves the health of our neighbors.
• Rebuilding Together works proactively and collaboratively with community leaders, long-term residents, funders and volunteers to foster dialogue and create safe, healthy communities.
• The work of Rebuilding Together has been proven to improve mental and physical health, increase safety and independence, and foster community connection and economic security for neighbors receiving repairs.
• Rebuilding Together helps level the playing field by supporting your neighbors: seniors, veterans, the marginalized, people with disabilities and victims of natural disaster living in historically underserved communities keep their greatest asset: a safe and healthy home.
• Our services transform neighborhoods into vibrant places, igniting pride, dignity, generational wealth, and opportunity at a time when our communities need it the most.