An Ellsworth, Maine veteran got a new front porch last week after a friend of his wife rallied two local businesses and the Maine Veterans Project to do the job. The retired firefighter’s old porch was about 30 years old. He’d been patching it together to keep it from falling apart, so the upgrade was long overdue.
According to WABI TV5, the homeowner is David Long, a U.S. Air Force veteran and a retired firefighter in Ellsworth. Viking Lumber donated the wood for the new porch. J&R Contracting Group provided the labor. The two businesses worked tirelessly to bring Long a safe, reworked porch he could feel good about coming home to or spending time on each day.
Long told WABI he had been making patchwork repairs to his old porch for two or three years to keep it from collapsing on him. “I had been cobbing it up for two or three years, so it didn’t fall off on me.” He hadn’t asked anyone for help with the project; however, he had to do contoinued work on the project without a long-term solution. A friend of his wife had organized everything as a surprise after learning Long was a veteran, so he had no idea the renovation was in the works until it was underway.
The friend started making phone calls to coordinate the donations until she had everything in place. Eventually, she told Long that crews would be showing up at the house to start building. Long said he actually didn’t pay a cent for the work and was extremely appreciative of everything that had been done for him.
A Surprising Renovation for a Retiree and Veteran
Three members of the J&R Contracting Group crew spoke to WABI about their decision to take on the project. Foreman Shawn Willette said the work was a privilege, particularly for veterans in the community. Christian Kaiser, a J&R employee with family members who have served in the military, said the project was an honor for him. Ryan Morris, co-owner of the company and vice president of operations, characterized the new porch as a small gesture of appreciation for what veterans have done for the country.
Long told WABI he hopes people who see what was done for him are inspired to ask for help when they need it. He encouraged other veterans, in particular, to look into the programs that exist for them.
He added that they shouldn’t hesitate to use them, as they exist for a reason. There are several options available for those who have participated in active service, but some can take a bit of searching to find. If you were a part of the military and you need similar assistance, it’s worth reaching out to see what can be done for you.