By Michael Martin, NWFA
Imagine serving your country, putting yourself in harm’s way every day, and having the good fortune of returning home with no serious physical injuries. Then imagine being a victim of random violence in your own country at the hands of someone whose life you defended.
Army veteran Chris Sanna knows this all too well. He and his girlfriend were attending a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game this past summer when two men approached them outside the stadium. The men robbed the couple and shot Sanna, who was paralyzed from the waist down.
Sanna, like other injured veterans, now faces significant mobility issues. Each day, these veterans endure physical challenges most of us will never have to face, but there are efforts being made to help restore their independence.
At the NWFA’s 2015 Wood Flooring Expo in St. Louis, the NWFA announced a major community service initiative with the Gary Sinise Foundation, which builds customized SMART homes for physically injured veterans.
As part of this commitment, in January, a group of competing St. Louis contractors volunteered to install 1,400 square feet of wood flooring on the main level of Sanna’s ranch-style home, and about 700 square feet of tile in the basement. The companies, recruited by Lockwood Flooring, included All Wood Floor Company, JD’s Flooring, Jerry’s Fine Floors, Just Around the Corner, and JW Hardwood Floors. The flooring was donated by Sheoga Hardwood Flooring and delivered by Ambassador Floors.
Another NWFA partner, the National Tile Contractor’s Association, coordinated tile donations from Floridatile. NWFA member MAPEI Corporation donated the setting material and grout.
A full list of additional NWFA members participating in other GSF projects is available here.
Learn how your company can get involved by contacting the NWFA at 800.422.4556, or at info@nwfa.org.