CityView Magazine

CityViewNC.com | 39 H elping a Hero, founded in 2007 by Houston, Texas attorney Meredith Iler, is a 501 (c) (3) non-partisan, non-profit organization created to give our wounded warriors from Iraq and Af- ghanistan a better quality of life in the most im- portant place: their home. "Over the past seven years, we've grown to the point where we will build 40 homes this year in 16 different states. We hope to continue this expansion to aid as many of our wounded veterans as possible in receiving an adapt- able home. An accessible home restores the veteran's inde- pendence and takes a great deal of stress off of his or her personal life. We are grateful for the opportunity to be in their lives and say 'thank you' for their service in a mean- ingful way," explained Iler. While Helping a Hero has built a large number of adapted homes in the Lone Star State and other parts of the country, they are only getting started in North Carolina. Our state has one of the largest military presences in the nation and one of the reasons is Fort Bragg. Many soldiers are coming back from the War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan with By MIrIaM Landru life changing wounds. Loss of limbs and extensive burns are not uncommon. A normal house is usually not very accommodating for these types of situations. You have to adapt the homes and sometimes that can be more costly than just building a new one. e Helping a Hero website stated, "For paraplegics, quadriplegics and leg amputees, the homes provide roll-in showers, wider doors, lower counters, roll-under sinks and adapted toilet areas." e homes of burn victims are "positioned to allow very little light in" and very high-quality air filters are implemented. is patriotic non-profit has partnered with Fayetteville builder McKee Homes to "Nominate a Hero." One lucky wounded warrior will receive a home in the master-planned community of Legacy Lakes in the military community of Aberdeen. McKee Homes has already built adapted homes in Cottages at North Ramsey in Fayetteville, Oakmont in Harnett County and Fairfield Farms in North Fayetteville. e biggest problem is getting the military to apply. "e majority of the warriors are very proud and feel as though there is someone else who needs it more, someone whose wounds are worse, someone deserves it more," said Pat Mc- Kee. With great service comes great pride. Miss North Carolina USA, Olivia Olvera, is helping bring awareness to the cause. For paraplegics, quadriplegics and leg amputees, the homes provide roll-in showers, wider doors, lower counters, roll- under sinks and adapted toilet areas. Photograph by Jen Tarbox

• Cover