This past August when U.S. Army veteran Alvin Jackson and his Zandra received the keys to their new mortgage-free home in Cleveland, TN, it was an incredibly special ribbon-cutting and unique homecoming that Drain Right Guttering was honored to take part in.
Spearheaded by Operation Finally Home, along with the Ocoee Region Builders Association and Lowes, the new Jackson family home was built on land that has been in Zandra’s family for decades. In fact, Zandra grew up in the home that once stood on the property.
However, Alvin and Zandra’s home was damaged significantly in 2018 when a tree fell across the back of the house, and they were not able to properly repair the home. When tornadoes struck the area in 2020, the home was falling in and the Jacksons used buckets on the floor to catch water leaking from the roof.
Thankfully, struggle and resilience are nothing new to the Jacksons as Alvin battled cancer and other sicknesses over his 70-plus years and has always continued to persevere. Jackson was a standout freshman basketball player at Cleveland State Community College when he received a draft notice in 1968. Alvin then spent 13 months in Vietnam, from May 1969 until June 1970, sustaining three injuries on combat duty.
Due to exposure to Agent Orange, Jackson developed lung cancer, which he beat twice and is currently in remission. Alvin was recognized with the Combat Infantryman Badge and a Purple Heart for his valiant service in Vietnam and then served nearly 20 years as a member of the U.S. Army National Guard.
Here’s where Operation Finally Home comes in for the Jacksons: This nonprofit organization provides custom-built, mortgage-free homes, transitional housing, and home modifications to veterans, first responders, and their families by partnering with corporate sponsors, builder associations, builders, remodelers, developers, individual contributors, and volunteers to help these heroes and their families.
“We got involved with Operation Finally Home through The Ocoee Regional Builders Association, and they were instrumental in the project. It was a great opportunity to help out deserving veterans,” said Ladue Fossett, President of Drain Right Guttering.
Ocoee Region Builders Association is a not-for-profit trade association, comprised of professional builders, developers, and associated firms, engaged in home building, remodeling, and light commercial construction.
A group of volunteers tore the old house down, and the local community came together with these amazing partners to show their love and appreciation for a beloved Vietnam Vet and the freedom that he and his comrades fought for. During the construction of the new home, notes of love from the community and the country were written and stapled into the studs to ensure that before insulation went in and drywall went up, the walls would forever seal in the love of the community for the Jackson family.
Drain Right Guttering had the honor of providing and installing the gutter system for the new home, offering superior water management through the downspouts to relocate rainwater during future heavy thunderstorms:
“The gutters are 6” inch gutters with 3”x4” inch downspouts. These gutters will help protect the home from excessive water damage to the foundation, and help to move water away from outdoor living spaces,” Fossett explains.
Homes without a gutter system are susceptible to rainwater clogging on leaves and debris clumps on the roof, then overflowing directly onto the home. New gutters will help prevent overflow, damage, rot, and leaks in the future.
Now, the Jacksons can live comfortably in their new home on the family land without fear of inclement weather!
We want to send a special thank-you once more to US Army Staff Sergeant Alvin Jackson for his service, as well as Operation Finally Home and Ocoee Region Builders Association for including us in this meaningful build.
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Drain Right Guttering proudly serves the greater local areas of Birmingham, AL, Dalton, GA, as well as Chattanooga, Cleveland, and Knoxville, TN. Reach out today for all estimates and inquiries.