Veteran’s Day Celebration

Gulf Coast Village and its sponsor Volunteers of America National Services hosted a Veteran’s Day Celebration to honor the senior living community’s 54 veteran residents. In addition to treating veterans and families to a special Veteran’s Day lunch, The Home Depot Foundation contributed $133,953 to Gulf Coast Village to support its veteran services.

Gulf Coast Village is home to the largest population of veterans in Southwest Florida as well as the Volunteers of America National Services network of over 20 senior living communities nationally. Mike King, CEO of Volunteers of America, led services at Gulf Coast Village that were streamed nationwide to honor veterans of all five military branches. All resident veterans were individually recognized and enjoyed patriotic musical selections, scripture reading and remarks from King alongside their family members and other Gulf Coast Village residents.

To honor such a large population of veterans, Gulf Coast Village was chosen as one of The Home Depot Foundation’s Operation Surprise recipients. The Home Depot Foundation has made a nationwide commitment to give back to veterans and will complete hundreds of service projects over the next few weeks in honor of Veteran’s Day. Home Depot representative Marcia Dilger announced the donation during the luncheon sponsored by The Home Depot Foundation at Gulf Coast Village held prior to the annual Volunteers of America celebration.

“We are so thankful to have Gulf Coast Village be chosen as an Operation Surprise recipient and for such a generous donation to support our veteran services,” said King. “Volunteers of America has had a long-standing partnership with The Home Depot and its volunteer programs, so much of what we do has been supported by them over the years and we are grateful for that partnership.”

View the images from this inspiring event here.