The Cape Fear (N.C.) Chapter helped to repair the home of a local Army veteran through a partnership with the Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity Veterans Build. In October 2024, 12 members of the chapter, wearing MOAA shirts, spent a day painting, removing rotted soffits and windowsills, and assisting contractors with other repairs.

Chapter President Col. Gregory Williamson, USA (Ret), said he learned about the program through an advertisement at the Fayetteville Habitat for Humanity ReStore and thought it would be a great project for the chapter. He connected with Rick Callaway, the chief operations officer for Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity and a retired warrant officer who is now a member of the chapter. In addition to sharing details with Williamson about the veterans build, Callaway also helped with the application for a Community Outreach Grant from The MOAA Foundation.

The chapter’s grant application was accepted for $3,000 to help pay for the needed supplies for the repairs, and Habitat identified a retired noncommissioned officer whose home was in need of assistance.

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This project was one of six during the Fayetteville Habitat for Humanity’s 2024 Veteran Build season, which ran from Sept. 11 to Nov. 30.

According to Callaway, the program attempts to complete as many repairs on veterans’ homes as possible, using local community sponsors, volunteers, and partners to maximize the impact on the veteran community. Veterans make up nearly 20% of the population of Cumberland County, where Fayetteville is located.

Williamson said participating in the project made all the chapter volunteers feel great.

“It was a way for us to continue serving, but I think more importantly, we got to see where this veteran lives, met him, and it became much more personal approach to helping someone,” Williamson said. “He was so grateful that day. We live with so many veterans around us, and you don’t know all their stories and what’s going on in their lives. I recommend other MOAA chapters also get involved with programs like this in their community.”