U.S. Marine Cpl. Joshua Hotaling, who suffered traumatic injuries in the line of duty, will receive a special gift that will allow him to enjoy better mobility and the ability to live more independently—keys to a new, specially adapted home. Hotaling, a mine sweeper, was working to clear a compound for his battalion during his first deployment to Afghanistan on May 13, 2011, when he suffered the amputations of both of his legs and severe hand injuries in an IED blast. This new home is being made possible by Homes for Our Troops through the support of Save Mart Supermarkets and Cargill Beef.
Over the past year, Save Mart Supermarkets has participated in community outreach and in-store ground beef promotions with Cargill Beef to create public awareness and sponsor Homes for Our Troops, a nonprofit charitable organization created in 2004. The group helps injured veterans by raising funds and organizing the construction of custom-built, fully accessible homes.
To officially kick off construction of Hotaling’s new home, Homes for Our Troops held a special groundbreaking event on April 5 in Loomis, Calif.
“Homes for Our Troops provides a special and very important service to those veterans injured in the line of duty, and it is our honor to be able to support the organization and give these veterans homes tailored to their individual needs,” said Steve Junqueiro, president and COO of Save Mart Supermarkets. “Cpl. Hotaling and the many others who serve our country make many sacrifices, and many of them come home with serious injuries. Save Mart Supermarkets and our shoppers passionately respect and value these heroes, and we’re honored to give back.”
Save Mart Supermarkets’ support of Homes for Our Troops is part of a broader Cargill Beef initiative that has included in-store awareness, burger grilling events and other retailer support throughout the U.S. Funds raised during the initiative are being used for materials and labor to build homes provided to qualifying injured veterans at no cost. More than 1,600 U.S. military veterans have incurred life-altering combat injuries during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn and Operation Enduring Freedom, requiring specially adapted homes. Homes for Our Troops is working to meet this need, having built more than 160 homes in 39 states and constructing approximately 40 houses annually. Homes for Our Troops has built or has current plans to build 24 homes for injured veterans in California and Nevada.
A dedicated website for the initiative—HelpAHero.com—provides more information on Homes for Our Troops and its mission, in addition to instructions about how to make a donation.
“It is an honor and a privilege to partner with Save Mart Supermarkets to boost awareness and raise money to support an organization with a mission as meaningful as Homes for Our Troops,” said Katie Blick-White, associate brand manager for Cargill Beef. “Deserving military heroes such as Cpl. Hotaling gave so much serving our country, and it feels good to be able to help provide them with a place, built specially for their needs, that they can call home for themselves and their families.”
