New Group Helps Northern Westchester Vets Fix Homes to 'Age in Place'

Purple Heart Homes NY Downstate Chapter received its official signed charter and proclamation during a board meeting presentation Sept. 1 at the Croton-on-Hudson Public Library.

The Purple Heart Homes NY Downstate Chapter seeks to help Service Connected Disabled Veterans in Duchess, Putnam, Rockland and upper Westchester counties identify work that needs to be done to their homes to enable them to successfully and safely age in place.

Purple Heart Homes NY Downstate Chapter Board President Don Smith, Sheriff of Putnam County invites representatives from clubs and communities to help get involved by:

• Identifying a Veteran that could use our help and assistance
• Volunteering is always needed, valued and appreciated
• Donating to the NY Downstate Chapter so more projects can be completed

The presentation was made to the board and its Executive Director Eugene Parrotta by Dale Beatty and John Gallina, who drove from their headquarters in Statesville, NC to declare the group official and in good standing.

The NY Downstate Chapter completed its first project this spring for 83 year-old Korean War Veteran and single amputee Stephen O’Loughlin in York, NY by putting railings on his front and back porch to provide him with needed stability and helped with a chair lift enabling him to access his bedroom on the second floor of his home.

The next project that the group will take on is to provide a needed ramp at the American Legion in Lake Mahopac. A kick-off ceremony will be held to help raise needed funds in order to complete the project. Work will begin the week of Sept. 21.

Parrotta is asking for help from communities to identify veterans that need railings, grab bars, ramps, doorways widened or bathrooms made handicap accessible. “We want to help older Veterans and their caregivers be able to safely age in place in their own homes,’ said Parrotta. “The hardest part of my job is finding Veterans that need help and we know the need out there.”

To make a donation: checks can be made out to the Purple Heart Homes NY Downstate Chapter and sent to P.O. Box 27 Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520.

Parrotta’s goal is to improve as many older Service Connected Disabled Veterans and their caregivers lives with needed simple housing solutions to make life easier, safer and more accessible for them.

For information about the Purple Heart Homes NY Downstate Chapter call Parrotta 646-296-8882 or shoot him an email at thebigu47@yahoo.com

PHOTO: Purple Heart Homes NY Downstate Chaper Board members Lorraine Lathrop, Liz Winkleman, Suzy McDonough, Rich Zumbach, Mark Franzoso, Ken Schmitt, Mahopac Supervisor (guest), Eugene Parrotta, NY Downstate , Dale Beatty and John Gallina on left and right/contributed