200 families of veterans were invited to the Framing Hope Veterans Appreciation Day hosted by Help The Children SCV and the Antelope Valley Saturday morning.

Help the Children gave veterans and active members free home improvement supplies, such as cabinets, outdoor chairs, and outdoor lights, as a way to honor their service to our country.

This is the 3rd annual Veterans Appreciation Day hosted by Help The Children SCV. Last year, 330 families were invited to the event, however, Help The Children SCV decided to scale it back to 200 families so they would get to take home more supplies.

“This is our way of saying thank you,” said Micheal Santomauro, the director of Help The Children SCV. “We have an appreciation for the sacrifice that those who choose to serve in the military are making when they make that choice to serve. Sadly not everyone makes it home, but if it weren’t for the service of those who choose to serve, we would not be able to enjoy most of the freedoms that we do have.”

Home Depot donated most of the supplies given out.

“We want to show them appreciation by home improvement items, which is probably something they can use that they can’t afford,” said Roxana Presgrove, the President of Help The Children SCV. “As much as the veterans do for us, we want to do for them. We want to thank our military for everything they have done.”

“When we came home from Vietnam, people were spitting on us, it’s finally nice to be appreciated,” said David Kazmer, a Navy veteran.

Kazmer was in the service for eight years and served in the Vietnam War for two tours.

“To be able to make somebody’s life a little better with an unexpected blessing, or surprise, or something to help them when they didn’t think there was any source for help, goes beyond words,” said Santomauro.

To donate and help support the military through Help The Children SCV, go to their website.