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It starts with Community: from Sh*t-hole to Dream-come-True for deserving homeless USMC Veteran.
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After serving his country from 1978 to 1981, retired Marine Torre Harris returned to Louisville, KY to build others’ homes as a carpenter…until he was injured in a car accident.
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That was 15-yrs. ago.
Over the past years, the Devil Dog found himself living on the streets. That’s when a team of over 100 volunteers stepped in to change that.
It began, when a Charity named “Operation Victory” got ahold of an abandoned house that on a nice plot of land…but it needed a LOT of WORK.
Over the past years, the Devil Dog found himself living on the streets. That’s when a team of over 100 volunteers stepped in to change that.
It began, when a Charity named “Operation Victory” got ahold of an abandoned house that on a nice plot of land…but it needed a LOT of WORK.
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The home had been vacant for around 3-years. It was boarded-up and rotting both on the out-side and inside…including the home’s structure.
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Just to get started, inspectors had to go in and asses the skeleton of the house.
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“They go in and pull the drywall to see what’s behind it. We got in the crawlspaces to look at foundations. Did as much inspection as we could.”
-Nick Reid, project manager
-Nick Reid, project manager
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From here, volunteers pulled bushes in the yard and began removing trash inside.
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How much trash?
TWO full dumpsters.
TWO full dumpsters.
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Next they knocked down walls to make an expanded kitchen and living space.
In addition, they pulled up the old wood flooring and replaced it all.
In addition, they pulled up the old wood flooring and replaced it all.
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“It’s always so amazing to see the work so many folks are able to come together and do.”
-Tim Morris, director of the Greater Louisville Central Labor Council
-Tim Morris, director of the Greater Louisville Central Labor Council
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“This feels like something we can do to serve [veterans] after they served us and protected us for fighting for our freedom. It’s a great thing to give back a little bit. We will never be able to give back the proper amount they deserve.”
-Tim Morris
-Tim Morris
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That included replacing the wiring.
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SIX months later, it went from ABOVE to BELOW.
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They even installed new appliances/furniture from donations:
-Stoves/Microwave
-Refrigerator
-Sinks
-Couches
-Tables
-Bed
-Stoves/Microwave
-Refrigerator
-Sinks
-Couches
-Tables
-Bed
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From -Torri Harris:
“I was just speechless…”
“I was just speechless…”
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“…I thought it was somebody’s house I was just working on like I normally do.”
-Torri Harris
-Torri Harris
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Finally, the once homeless Marine had a bed to call his own.
AND they left the carpenter with one last task, to call his own…
AND they left the carpenter with one last task, to call his own…
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“Before we go back in, I got you a house I want you to go hang some blinds in.”
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Heartwarming words of appreciation from USMC Torre Harris:
“It’s wonderful. There’s no one there but me…”
“It’s wonderful. There’s no one there but me…”
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“…I don’t have listen to nothing. I just listen to myself breathe. I don’t even cut the TV on…”
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“…I just sit there and enjoy it.”
