Help a Disabled Veteran
Tax deductible
Help a disabled veteran live comfortably in his home!
Butler Dowery, an 80 year old long-term resident of Harlem, New York suffered from a spinal stroke while vacationing with friends in 2010. The stroke left him confined to a power wheelchair, which he has learned to maneuver with great dexterity. Dowery says, “It isn’t much different from driving a car.” He has lived in his current apartment in Harlem for almost 40 years and loves his current home. Mr. Dowery has adapted to his new lifestyle with determination, saying, “It’s just something you have to do.”
Prior to his accident in 2010, Mr. Dowery served in the US Army from 1956-58, returning home to complete his undergraduate education at Kentucky State where he was an active member of Omega Psi Phi. 63 years later and Mr. Dowery continues to participate in Omega Psi Phi activities and has been honored several times for his service work with the organization. After serving in the army, Mr. Dowery devoted his life to teaching troubled students who had issues with delinquency and other emotional problems. He taught at a high school extension program for boys who were detained at the Rikers’ Juvenile Facility. Mr. Dowery said the job was hard and required a great deal of patience, but everyone deserves an education and a teacher who cares. After his retirement in 1990, Mr. Dowery enjoyed spending his time dancing and socializing with friends. He especially loves Latin dancing like salsa, and says he still loves to go in his chair.
Since his accident, Mr. Dowery has not been able to live comfortably in his home because his wheelchair restricts his access to the bathroom and kitchen. In 2012, Mr. Dowery applied to Rebuilding Together NYC to receive free home repairs to make his bathroom and kitchen wheelchair accessible. Rebuilding Together NYC, a non-profit organization that rebuilds safe and healthy homes for low-income people, would like to rebuild Mr. Dowery’s bathroom and kitchen to make it functional for Mr. Dowery and enable him to live an independent life. However, the size of the project is so great that Rebuilding Together NYC cannot complete it without the help of outside funding.
The AmeriCorps members at Rebuilding Together NYC are creating this fundraiser so that Mr. Dowery is able to receive these necessary accessibility modifications. Without them, he is not able to safely or comfortably live in his home. If we are able to raise enough funds
through this project, we will be able to completely rebuild Mr. Dowery’s home into one that can accommodate his chair and help him regain a sense of normalcy after his injury.
With a little help from you all, here is what we could accomplish:
$2150-Widen doorway to bathroom
$4300-Widen doorways to bathroom and kitchen
$14750-Rip out existing tub and tile and replace with barrier free roll in shower.
We are the AmeriCorps members of Rebuilding Together NYC. We would like to make sure that Mr. Dowery lives in a safe, healthy, and independent home by fundraising on his behalf. Every little bit helps us help Mr. Dowery and will go directly to the cost of the rebuild!
Butler Dowery, an 80 year old long-term resident of Harlem, New York suffered from a spinal stroke while vacationing with friends in 2010. The stroke left him confined to a power wheelchair, which he has learned to maneuver with great dexterity. Dowery says, “It isn’t much different from driving a car.” He has lived in his current apartment in Harlem for almost 40 years and loves his current home. Mr. Dowery has adapted to his new lifestyle with determination, saying, “It’s just something you have to do.”
Prior to his accident in 2010, Mr. Dowery served in the US Army from 1956-58, returning home to complete his undergraduate education at Kentucky State where he was an active member of Omega Psi Phi. 63 years later and Mr. Dowery continues to participate in Omega Psi Phi activities and has been honored several times for his service work with the organization. After serving in the army, Mr. Dowery devoted his life to teaching troubled students who had issues with delinquency and other emotional problems. He taught at a high school extension program for boys who were detained at the Rikers’ Juvenile Facility. Mr. Dowery said the job was hard and required a great deal of patience, but everyone deserves an education and a teacher who cares. After his retirement in 1990, Mr. Dowery enjoyed spending his time dancing and socializing with friends. He especially loves Latin dancing like salsa, and says he still loves to go in his chair.
Since his accident, Mr. Dowery has not been able to live comfortably in his home because his wheelchair restricts his access to the bathroom and kitchen. In 2012, Mr. Dowery applied to Rebuilding Together NYC to receive free home repairs to make his bathroom and kitchen wheelchair accessible. Rebuilding Together NYC, a non-profit organization that rebuilds safe and healthy homes for low-income people, would like to rebuild Mr. Dowery’s bathroom and kitchen to make it functional for Mr. Dowery and enable him to live an independent life. However, the size of the project is so great that Rebuilding Together NYC cannot complete it without the help of outside funding.
The AmeriCorps members at Rebuilding Together NYC are creating this fundraiser so that Mr. Dowery is able to receive these necessary accessibility modifications. Without them, he is not able to safely or comfortably live in his home. If we are able to raise enough funds
through this project, we will be able to completely rebuild Mr. Dowery’s home into one that can accommodate his chair and help him regain a sense of normalcy after his injury.
With a little help from you all, here is what we could accomplish:
$2150-Widen doorway to bathroom
$4300-Widen doorways to bathroom and kitchen
$14750-Rip out existing tub and tile and replace with barrier free roll in shower.
We are the AmeriCorps members of Rebuilding Together NYC. We would like to make sure that Mr. Dowery lives in a safe, healthy, and independent home by fundraising on his behalf. Every little bit helps us help Mr. Dowery and will go directly to the cost of the rebuild!Organizer
Caitlin Yumori
Organizer
New York, NY
REBUILDING TOGETHER NYC
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
