http://www.news-press.com/article/20131215/VOLUNTEERING/312150044/Wounded-vet-family-take-keys-new-Naples-home
Welcomes to the neighborhood don’t get much better than this.Brent and Katy Hernandez, who recently relocated from Georgia, received cheers and applause from more than 100 well-wishers Saturday as they took the keys to their newly refurbished Naples home — a $200,000-plus gift for a family that has seen its fair share of struggle.
Brent, who is also Army Sgt. Brent Hernandez, was severely injured in 2010 when the Air Force CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor carrying him crashed in Afghanistan. Four died in that crash, and 16, including Hernandez, were injured.
The healing continues, the family says. But the mortgage-free house, courtesy of the non-profit Building Homes for Heroes project and donations from their new neighbors, is sure to help.
“It is overwhelming, surprising, extremely exciting” said Brent Hernandez as he, his wife and their two young daughters toured the 1,600-square foot home.
Added Katy Hernandez: “We just feel so blessed. It’s an amazing house. Anybody would just love to live here.”
Building Homes for Heroes, a national non-profit organization, worked with Manhattan Construction, Chase bank and local volunteers to completely gut and redesign the 26-year-old house for the family over the last six weeks. Neighbors also pitched in by setting up Christmas decorations inside and out.
The family only saw the interior before the remodeling and, much like those big reveals on reality television, they toured it only after it was finished. Katy Hernandez said she wanted a modern design, but one with a Florida feel.
The home got new wood flooring, modern light fixtures, ceiling fans and new appliances. Andrew Pujol, founder and president of Building Homes for Heroes, said workers tore the interior “down to the sticks” to effectively rehab it. The family was certainly pleased with the result.
“It’s totally what we like,” Katy Hernandez said. “Our designer was right on. She did everything perfect.”
This is the 10th home in 10 weeks that Building Homes for Heroes has completed in Florida, said Pujol. The value of the work and equipment was about $210,000, about $140,000 of which was donated, according to the organization.