A Commitment to Veterans That Lasts Beyond Veterans Day
By Lauren Taylor
There is no question that veterans are underserved and underappreciated in communities around the nation. After enduring years of intense training, seeing horrific battles and preparing to sacrifice themselves for the safety and freedom of our country, veterans deserve more respect, resources and care. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates over 2,000 veterans are homeless across the state of Florida. Whether they are suffering from mental illness, physical disabilities or struggling to readjust to the civilian world, nonprofits like Tunnel to Towers Foundation are interceding on their behalf and getting them the help they need.
Tunnel to Towers was created in honor of Stephen Siller, a firefighter who gave up his life while saving others in the tragic events on 9/11. The foundation was created to honor his sacrifice and the sacrifices of other first responders and military personnel. Its core mission is to support injured veterans, first responders and their families. This includes building smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans, providing mortgage-free homes to families of fallen first responders and supporting Gold Star families.
To support the growing number of injured and Gold Star veterans in Florida, Tunnel to Towers has been building mortgage-free homes in the Tampa area. Taylor Carpet One Floor & Home has funded flooring installation costs in several veteran homes in partnership with Tunnel to Towers’ initiative. Tunnel to Towers has also started Veterans’ Village, which takes hotels and updates them to be studio apartments for veterans. It will be nationwide, with some locations already developed or in progress. Tunnel to Towers has already broken ground on Florida’s first Veterans’ Village in Bradenton.
Taylor Carpet One proudly supports Tunnel to Towers and has since 2014. Through annual events like the Fort Myers Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk and helping fund different programs, Taylor Carpet One contributes to the nonprofit’s mission on a local, statewide and national level. I am proud to be the chair for the Fort Myers Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk. Being an active member of this nonprofit’s mission is an honor and supporting Tunnel to Towers alongside my family has been incredibly rewarding.
Our veterans don’t just deserve one day of honor; they deserve homes, gratitude and celebration every day of the year. We are proud to support Tunnel to Towers on its mission to do just that.