A new facility supporting veterans is underway in Fuquay-Varina. The United States Veterans Corps (USVC) is relocating its headquarters from Raleigh after receiving an opportunity to expand.
Including nearly three acres of land, the 3,000+ square-foot operations center at 2538 Waco Commercial Court will support programs like Operation Coming Home, Toys For “Lil” Troops, a food pantry for vet families and local food runs. While the United States Veterans Corps provides toys to children of deployed or low-income troops, aid during natural disasters and food for U.S. Military & First Responder Veteran families in need, one of the organization’s most well-known programs is providing custom Hero Homes for troops that have been injured in combat operations.
Every year, they interview a myriad of families and choose two to build homes for in Wake County. One is typically built in the spring and the other in the fall. After the lots are donated at a significant reduction, the veteran families—owners—then move in with a house pre-paid in full. The only major costs to the family are taxes, HOA fees and any subsidiary items. And the only stipulation is the recipient family must reside in the home for five years before relocating or moving, with no additional costs.
Specifically, the United States Veterans Corps seeks locations in pre-established or up-and-coming neighborhoods because of the significance of community. This approach encourages vets, specifically those with PTSD, to assimilate back into civilian life and build relationships that enhance a lifestyle built on the foundation of community. Thus far, more than 20 homes have been built for veterans in Wake County – half in Fuquay-Varina.
Operation Coming Home was created over a decade ago. President and founder Andrew (Andy) Ladner credits his background in the army as an engineer to starting this program, and even more, organization.
“We created a program because we were doing extreme makeover projects for Habitat for Humanity,” said Ladner. “After years of dedication toward that great organization, we asked ourselves why we weren’t doing this for our own people? So many wounded or even unwounded vets come home after being abroad and don’t have a stable home. We felt we should be doing it for our own people.”
The award-winning program has received national attention, and has even won seven “Best Community Service Project in the Nation” awards.
Andy will be quick to tell you that the awards aren’t that important to him, but he understands that it gives the program more traction and credibility. The next home presentation will be two days after this issue leaves for the printer, and will have taken place on Veterans Day. Look for photos from the event in the next issue.
Although Operation Coming Home is a huge undertaking, delivering two houses a year, it’s a VERY small part of what the organization does. There is still time to be part of two of their other larger programs. Their Toys For “Lil” Troops program holds a Guinness World Record for the number of toys donated in a 24-hour period. On November 29, 2016, they set the new world record at 52,706 pounds of toys (26.35 tons). As impressive as that number is, it didn’t include coloring books or bikes that were there, and it only accounts for that very specific 24-hour period. The total was actually greater than that.
The organization continues to run that program every year. The program differs from the Toys For Tots program in that the toys collected go specifically to the children of deployed or low-income troops, whereas Toys For Tots is primarily civilian families. They will be having a drive-thru toy drop at 1100 S. Saunders St. in Raleigh on December 5, from 10am – 2pm. The location is next to Tobacco Road Harley-Davidson, and is the current location for USVC. In addition to the thousands of pounds of toys that will be donated this year, they have a spot in the office where veteran families can let their kids pick a specific toy or two from the collection.
When COVID starting shutting down the country, USVC decided to step up to help with food distribution in Wake County. Every week they do a food-run, usually on Fridays, to help feed 500 families-in-need in Wake County. The program is funded by GoVA Loans, and they can always use more help in getting the meals delivered. The group that delivers the food is mostly veterans, but they are looking for anyone that can spare time to help get this done. It’s a couple of hours on Friday morning, and you don’t have to commit to every week. You can find out more information on how to get involved on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/usveteranscorps. Note that you don’t have to have a Facebook account to check it out.
By the way, they hold a Guinness Word Record for food delivery as well. In 2011, they partnered with the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics for a 24-hour food drive during which they collected 559,885 pounds of food.
The current facility also houses a food pantry for veteran families in need. The new facility in Fuquay-Varina will also have a food pantry within the building.
The aid that the organization provides doesn’t even stop here. Although they officially celebrated their 12th birthday on October 27, when the first home was delivered, the concept and partnership started in the fall of 1992 when Hurricane Andrew hit and they provided relief to the area. They have not stopped providing relief, and continue to this day to help out when natural disasters strike our country.
USVC also seems to fill in a gap between military operations and civilian operations. There are a lot of policies that govern our military, as there should be. These policies extend into the likes of burials and other events, for example. The guidelines for transporting fallen veterans are very specific, but sometimes there are extenuating circumstances that don’t fall within the specifics of military policy. USVC has the ability to step in and help out the family under these unique circumstances.
We asked about the new location in Fuquay-Varina, where they will start clearing the land for construction any day now.
“We are excited to be rent-free in our new space in Fuquay,” said Ladner. “It will be easier for us to have our own, dedicated space to become more and more efficient to our great partners like our vendors for Operation Coming Home.”
The facility is currently scheduled to open in summer 2021. If you want to get involved either as a volunteer or recipient, please visit http://myusvc.com/ to learn more.
