Free home improvement for a veteran

Anyone who owns a home knows how expensive home improvement projects can be, but a military veteran in the U.P. will have a project done for free in the coming months.

Northern Michigan University’s Volunteer Center is partnering with Wells Fargo to offer a service project for veterans.

One lucky veteran will win free home improvement work, which will be done this fall by NMU student volunteers and Wells Fargo employees.

“We partner every year with Wells Fargo for our annual Make A Difference Day project, where we rake leaves and do other yard projects for elderly members of the community, but this is the first time we’ve partnered to do a project specifically for veterans,” NMU Volunteer Center assistant coordinator Carrie Grishaber said.

There are some qualifications to meet.

The winner will be a veteran with a low to moderate income who owns a home that needs a small to medium-sized project.

“Beyond that, we’re going to do home visits and do some interviews and just kind of see what projects there are,” Grishaber said. “We’re looking for things like porch rebuilding, painting projects. We’re also looking for green-certified projects.”

Applications are due this coming Monday, July 15th.

They’re available at the front desk of the Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette.

The NMU Volunteer Center also has the form in its office in room 1205 of the University Center on campus.

The application is also available online.