Tunnel to Towers is a nonprofit focused on helping veterans, first responders, and gold star families with affordable homes. They also organize 5Ks and other runs to remember fallen heroes. With The Zachos Team’s focus on charitable work as well as home renovation, it was a natural fit for us to support this cause. We talked to Paul to find out more about the organization.
“They buy properties that are distressed or they build brand new. They make sure that they’re ADA compliant since a lot of these veterans are first responders. They may be in wheelchairs, they may be missing limbs, so they give them things like zero access showers, you know, where maybe they need to roll in with a wheelchair. Countertops that are low, appliances that may drop to allow them to be able to use them. So it's just a really good organization.”
The organization tries to remove some of the strain that many veterans can feel upon returning home, or tries to help families who have had to go through the ultimate sacrifice. The organization started as a result of this; the founder’s brother was a fireman who died on 9/11.
“Your firemen, your first responders, your military, you know, they don't make a ton of money. So I think financially this puts a strain on the families. They also take care if they're a gold star family, which is a family that has lost their loved one in war. They also support them too. So it takes some of that pressure off these people and lets them know that we care about them and we support them in times of need. And so I just think that's real important.”
While the organization started small, and still asks for minimal donations- their entry level is just 11 dollars- they’ve grown to a national level, servicing an incredible amount of people.
“It's just grown to a really really big organization to where they're able to help tens of thousands of veterans that are coming back that maybe have PTSD or maybe have lost their homes. Maybe they were honorably discharged from the military from injury.”
In light of Memorial Day just occurring, we’d like to recommend this incredible organization and the things they do. If you’d like to donate to this cause, click here.
“We just finished Memorial Day, which is obviously the day to reflect on the people that died for our country and our freedoms. And I think it's important to remember the ones that are left behind, the families that may be left behind. But I just think it's a great organization. And I think for $11 a month, that's less than a couple of cups of coffee. I think more people can do it and support this organization and support the good things that they do.”
Written by Paul Zachos III