Community Corner
Youth Group Revitalizes Vet's Home
A youth group from South City's St. Veronica's Catholic Parish is helping a local WWII veteran revamp his back yard, and they need your help to get the job done.
It started when Sara T., a member of St. Veronica's youth group told Patrick Lucy, a youth minister at the parish, about an article she read featuring a South City World Ward II veteran who was struggling to get his benefits claims. Sara asked if the group could help the veteran in any way.
Now, for the past two weeks, over twenty middle school and high school kids have helped to revamp the back yard and deck of veteran Jake Ventrello and his wife, Kathy.
"It’s all my youth’s idea," Lucy said.
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Now the group is looking for a few final donations to get the job done over the next few weeks. They have already received support from South City Lumber, Broadmoor Lumber, South San Francisco and San Bruno Lowes, and Colma Home Depot.
"Astroturf would be fantastic," Lucy said. "That's the last thing to tie the whole thing together."
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Below is a letter from Lucy on the group's efforts and information on how to reach him:
St. Veronica’s Youth Group is helping out a 92 year old World War II Veteran and his wife with their yard. Both of them are in a wheel chair or a walker. The wife Kathy was a teacher for many years and her husband a decorated Veteran. Their yard was extremely overgrown and in a shamble. Both of them spent many hours in their yard prior planting and just enjoying themselves.
On July 7, 2012 we removed over 1000 lbs. of broken rock and cement, filled many bags with weeds and would like to make their yard usable again for them. The deck is also in need of work because of wood rot and water damage, which we will be fixing too. Below are some pictures of before and after shots.
After discussing some plans with Jake and Kathy, they would like to be able to go back out and plant, and spend some time in the yard to enjoy themselves in their yard.
Our plan is to build two - 2’ (W) X 8’ (L) X 3’ (H) raised planter boxes, install pavers for them to walk around, plant grass or sod and build a work table for them to use in the yard. Overall, design their yard in a way for them to be able to enjoy it.
Whatever you can help us with would be of great help. Thank you in advance for your consideration and support in helping people who truly need our help. If needed a Tax Identification number can be provided.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 650-255-2352.
Patrick Lucy
Youth Minister
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