Home Depot, nonprofit team up to renovate Pa. vet's home

READING, Pa. (WPVI) -- Volunteers by the dozens feverishly worked Thursday to complete a makeover of a home on Matthew Street in the Reading suburb of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania.

The home belongs to Vietnam veteran Gary Plourde and his wife Judi.

Gary Plourde lost his left leg in combat back in '69. An infection in his right leg, years later, left him in a wheelchair.

The volunteers from Home Depot and a local nonprofit called Little Actions of Love have spent 10 days making Plourde's home wheelchair accessible, installing a stair lift, widening doorways, putting up an accessible shower, new bathroom fixtures and other upgrades.

The volunteers say they feel good about their mission.

"Trying to get through some of the programs that are out there to support them take months for them to access the resources that are available for them," said Alice Moyer, Little Angels of Love. "Gary couldn't wait any longer."

"Gary, he lost his leg in the Battle of Khe Sanh in Vietnam, and to be able to thank him for that is an incredible feeling," said Andrew Heistand, Home Depot.

The Plourde's have stayed in a hotel since the makeover began, and they were more than thrilled and grateful to volunteers to get back home Thursday to see the complete makeover of their home of 30 years.

"It will make a big difference," said Gary Plourde. "My life has been struggling, and whatever you had to get or whatever you needed, you had to work for it."

"This is unbelievable," said Judi Plourde. "I don't even know the people, and they were willing to put in their time and effort to help us."

Home Depot says it has transformed more than 25,000 homes for veterans since 2011, leaving all involved happy and with a deep feeling of fulfillment.