Hardwood Floors February/March 2017

Supporting Wounded Veterans One Floor at a Time (Continued)

American OEM Wood Floors invited GSF smart home recipients for a tour and company picnic. Photos courtesy of American OEM Wood Floors.

and respect for the veteran. It’s one small way they can give back.” NWFA members often become part of the veterans’ extended support system following projects. Titus, for example, attended a baby shower for PFC Hockenberry and his wife, Ashley. “It’s impossible to participate in one of these projects and not become emotionally invested,” she says. “The experience truly changes you.” R.I.S.E. project sponsor, American OEM Wood Floors based in Burns, Tennessee, invited GSF specially adapted smart home recipients to tour their plant and participate in their company picnic this past summer. “Yes, we’re donating floors for these veterans,” says company CEO, Don Finkell, “but we also want them to be a part of our community as well.” Matt Poole, Owner of Coats, North Carolina-based Specialty Wood Floors, got involved in a GSF R.I.S.E. project for Army Master Sergeant Cedric King. MSG King lost both his legs and part of his right hand in 2012 as the result of an IED blast. His GSF specially adapted smart home is under construction in Duluth, Georgia, but his existing home is located in Spring Lake, North Carolina, near Poole’s business. After meeting King at the NWFA’s Wood Flooring Expo in Charlotte last year, NWFA committed to helping King replace the flooring in his existing home to prepare it Thank you C&R Flooring Derr Flooring FloridaTile Gallaher Grill Works Horizon Forest Products

for sale. NWFA Board Vice President, Chris Zizza, with Westwood, Massachusetts-based C&R Flooring, worked with Poole to arrange installation of material donated by Raleigh, North Carolina-based Horizon Forest Products. Because the project was extensive and included removing existing floors, Poole was in the King home for several weeks. “Being in someone’s home for that period of time, you get to know them,” says Poole. “To see the obstacles Cedric and his family face every day, and to know I can relieve some of that burden, well, it’s just a humbling experience.” To date, more than 30 NWFA member companies have participated in GSF’s R.I.S.E. program throughout the United States. NWFA works with manufacturer members to donate flooring, distributor members to donate logistics and delivery to the jobsites, and contractor members to donate installation. Specially adapted smart homes are somewhat larger in format due to the additional floor space required to enhance mobility for wheelchairs and other prosthetics. “The homes generally range from about 3,500 to 4,000 square feet,” says Martin, “but that’s just a guideline as each home is custom built to meet the needs of each veteran and his or her family.” Veterans are not the only beneficiaries of the GSF R.I.S.E. program. The Gary Sinise Foundation recently announced that it will provide its first specially adapted smart home

NWFA Gary Sinise Foundation R.I.S.E. Participants

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