Joining forces to create housing for veterans experiencing homelessness, Renewal by Andersen of Central PA (RbA) on Friday, Feb. 23 will install doors and windows in Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania’s (VOPA) 15 tiny homes and a community center at the heart of the new Veterans Grove in Harrisburg. This new village will address the housing, counseling, educational, employment, health and nutritional needs of veterans who are experiencing homelessness. In fall of 2022, RbA pledged more than $500,000 to VOPA in in-kind materials and labor to help build the homes and community center.
Renewal by Andersen of Central PA President/Owner Joe Zisman said, “No American veteran who has sacrificed to defend our country should ever be denied a warm bed, food, medical care and community support. Team Renewal is proud to lead and demonstrate our sincere care for our military veterans through this major charitable donation. And, we are grateful to our loyal customers who allow us to contribute to our philanthropic projects through our ‘Renewal Cares’ initiatives, such as this one.”
“Renewal is pouring our hearts into helping to build homes for veterans facing homelessness, by providing a hand up because Renewal Cares! With our donation of the windows, doors and the labor for Veterans Grove, we mark a fundamental milestone in our collective effort to lessen the impact of homelessness on local veterans and move this project one step closer to the next phase of operation,” said Linda Johnston, Chief Culture Officer of RbA.
WHO:
Linda Johnston, Chief Culture Officer, Renewal by Andersen of Central PA
Scott Brodkorb, CEO, Renewal by Andersen of Central PA
Tom Zimmerman, Co-Founder/Chair, Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania
Bill Habacivch, Executive Director, Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania
WHAT:
Team Renewal installs windows and doors at VOPA’s Veterans Grove “Tiny Homes and Community Center” project in South Harrisburg.
WHEN: Friday, February 23rd all day.
NOTE: Media Availability/Tour 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Media invited and requested to RSVP.
WHERE: Located by PennDOT (1101 S. Front Street, Harrisburg.)
NOTE: Media will be escorted to tour construction site. Safety vests, hard hats will be distributed and must be worn during the tour.
“This new village will be a tremendous difference-maker in the lives of veterans experiencing homelessness. Our Renewal Team believes in giving back and in transforming the communities where we live, work and raise our families. Investing in meaningful projects like this one is at the heart of all we do,” noted Scott Brodkorb, CEO, Renewal by Andersen of Central PA.
VOPA Co-Chair Tom Zimmerman added, “Our veterans have sacrificed so much for us, for our freedoms and for our country. We are honored to team up with outstanding philanthropic leaders such as Renewal by Andersen to help support our veterans, especially when they have fallen on hard times.”
DETAILS OF IN-KIND DONATIONS/CONTRIBUTIONS FROM RbA:
- November 1, 2022 – Renewal by Andersen of Central PA commits an in-kind donation of over $500,000 to the Tiny Homes Village and Community Center at Veterans Grove in Harrisburg.
- February 23, 2024 – RbA installs windows and entry doors. Renewal by Andersen windows are custom-built in the USA.
- Acclaim™️ Fibrex windows, entry doors and a patio door are being supplied and installed by RbA. One patio door there will be installed at a future date.
- RbA will have approximately 85-90 Team Members on site for this Veterans Grove project. The majority of the RbA Team’s Certified Master Installers are volunteering their time, a number of whom are veterans.
- RbA crews from all three Central PA offices (Mechanicsburg, Altoona, Williamsport) will participate in the installation.
About Renewal by Andersen of Central PA:
Renewal by Andersen of Central Pennsylvania is an independently owned retail affiliate of Renewal by Andersen, which is the window replacement subsidiary of Andersen Corporation, a company that has revolutionized the window and door business for more than 120 years. Drawing on the Andersen tradition of quality, innovation and craftsmanship, Renewal by Andersen was founded with the objective of creating a different and better window and door replacement experience for homeowners across the country. Since opening our first store in Minnesota in 1995, Renewal by Andersen Corporation has rapidly grown to more than 100 markets in the U.S., becoming one of the largest replacement window companies in the country. With over 10 million windows installed across the country, community involvement is the power to bring positive, measurable change to the communities in which we operate. More information at: www.renewalbyandersen.com.
About Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania:
VOPA is a 501c3 non-profit organization established in 2018 to help veterans who are experiencing homelessness in Central Pa. We stand to combat homelessness among veterans by providing support and services needed to promote an empowered life filled with strength and purpose. If you were willing to sacrifice your life for our freedom, you deserve better and VOPA will be the hand up to give you that opportunity. Each veteran served by VOPA receives an Individualized Service Plan (ISP) to meet their needs. Our model uses Therapeutic, Transitional Housing for veterans experiencing homelessness. We collaborate with existing service providers throughout Central Pa. such as health care systems, educational institutions and corporations to give our veterans the tools necessary to live a life of dignity they so deserve. VOPA teams up with local businesses who donate materials, services and labor to offset our cost for veterans’ projects.