OPERATION HOMEFRONT: CRISIS IN KINGSTON

Operation Homefront provides emergency assistance and morale to our troops, to the families they leave behind and to wounded warriors when they return home.

A nonprofit 501(c)(3), Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers in 30 chapters nationwide and has provided critical assistance to more than 45,000 military families in need.

Shortly before Channel 23 went off the air last fall, I helped Nick Woerner, Craig Artist and the regional director of Operation Homefront Tracy Hanschuck in their request to get-the-word-out. We produced a successful show that raised awareness and increased the participation from the viewing area. I was impressed. [Jeremy snuck in this picture]

Those most likely to volunteer services to help military families, or returning wounded are people who are somehow connected to the military themselves, either they themself have served or have family members serving. Regardless of the circumstance, you'll get a sense of family.

This is a picture of a volunteer installing a wheelchair ramp for a Sargent who was wounded in Iraq in Feb 2008. The soldier remains in a wheelchair after multiple sergeries and needed access to his home. When the assistance was announced through their network, people were fighting for the chance to help.

We have a similar situation here in Kingston. I thought it was well worth letting people know that help is needed locally.

With her permission: Rose Wilson is suffering a plumbing disaster. She and her husband reside at 52 Linderman avenue raising their three kids and his two.
Robert is deployed in Iraq and cannot navigate the crisis that has hit the family here at home.

The sewer line that connects across the street has collapsed under the road and the estimates from those with a licence to operate in the City have come in around $7K, thousands more than what mom can afford. With children ranging from 4 to 17, Rose reached out to Operation Homefront Regional Director Tracy Hanschuck.

Through their network, several contacts have offered to help immediately, including an eight man volunteer team from Staten Island that was willing to drive up the next day and dig with shovels. However, here in Kingston, you need a licensed plumber to oversee the task.

Tracy has contacted all the available plumbers and we wait by the phone to see who can step up and help the family of a soldier serving in harms way.

Meanwhile, Tracy and the three kids who live with her full time, pester the neighbors for showers, toilet use and laundry. Sending them off to the YMCA for use of the facilities when they wear out these neighbors is getting a bit tired.

So what if anything, can the DPW do in a case like this? The better question may be, what other organizations are out there that could help. An excavator is needed as well as cooperation with the water department and our own plumbing inspector will have to be engaged. Do we ignore this crisis when the bread winner is off serving our country?

Mayor Sottile drives past this address every day and has only now been approached on this issue. I expect some quick action now that we know the city is the only hurtle to getting the job done.
Now who will offer their backhoe?