Homes 4 Families teamed up with Rotary Club, Elks Lodge 2379, and the Residential Purchasing Corp. to donate toys and have a holiday party for veteran families at the Harry Bell Memorial at the Center Pointe Community.

Over 142 children from veteran families saw Santa Claus, built gingerbread houses and received presents at the event.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity,” said organizer Grace Elliott. “They put up with a lot when they’re with the military, they give up a lot, and I don’t know if they realize how much they add to our country.”

The Rotary Club and Elks Lodge 2379 donated over 100 presents, many of which came from a Toy Drive in early November.

“Altogether, we gathered enough toys so all these children had a gift,” said Jim Lentini, a veteran and member of the Elks Lodge 2379 and Rotary Club.

The gathering was a way for Homes 4 Families to build a stronger sense of community amongst veterans they are assisting. The organization provides resources and homes for veterans struggling with low incomes or homelessness.

“Many of our veterans are low income, they’ve just moved into homes, they’re just building their credit scores, building their ability to take care of their families, and so Christmas is a difficult time,” said Donna Deutchman, the chief executive officer for Homes 4 Families. “We want to make sure they have happy merry christmases, and their children are able to celebrate, and really experience the American Dream.”

As part of their mission to provide veterans with homes and resources, Homes 4 Families builds entire neighborhoods where veterans live next door to each other and can form their own community.

“The veterans came out together as families, they had fun, they built gingerbread houses, they partied together, their children again got to know each other,” said  Deutchman. “It’s a critical part of the program.”

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