Kathy Stewart, wtop.com
WASHINGTON — You could describe them as a team of Santa’s helpers, and on Saturday they were spreading cheer in one community.
About 50 Decorate-a-Vet volunteers descended on a home in Falls Church Saturday morning on a mission.
The non-profit’s founder, Jeff Jones, says the group is decorating five houses this year, which is the group’s second year of hosting the annual event.
Jones says he’s partnering with local companies, numerous volunteers and the local American Legion in Falls Church to make it happen. Each year, five homes owned by veterans are fixed-up before being decorated for the holidays.
Volunteers do whatever needs to be done, whether that’s removing trees, cleaning up debris, replacing gutters or putting in a wheelchair ramp. This year, Joseph and Selma Trombo’s home in Falls Church got help. Joseph is a Army veteran from the Korean-War era.
Amy Trombo is the retired couple’s daughter-in-law.
“They are so thankful and so relieved,” she says.
Because of the work, the couple can remain in their home longer.
“And that’s what they want to do, stay in their home.”
Amy can’t believe the transformation, she says people who are passing by say it looks like a new home. She says her in-laws have health problems so maintenance on the home wasn’t possible.
Jones says the idea for Decorate-a-Vet came out of owning a landscaping business, being a Navy brat and seeing veterans’ homes that needed to be repaired.
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