SHELBYVILLE – The national nonprofit organization, Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) will kick off the building of a specially adapted home for Army PFC Aaron Tieffel on Saturday, Nov. 18. PFC Tieffel was injured while serving in Iraq.
The Community Kickoff event signifies the start of the build process and will introduce PFC Tieffel to the community. The event will be held at Lions Community Building, Forest Park, Shelbyville,at 10:00 a.m. (check-in will begin at 9:30 a.m). The public is invited to attend.
On Aug. 23, 2007, on his first combat deployment, PFC Tieffel was on a mission to look for possible improvised explosive devices (IED) in Riyahd, Iraq with the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, when his vehicle was struck by an IED, flipping the vehicle over causing him to fall out. The blast resulted in a right below-knee amputation, left leg limb salvage, a spinal cord injury, Open Book Pelvic fracture, and other internal injuries. Once back in the United States, Aaron had multiple surgeries and a long recovery.
The home being built for PFC Tieffel will feature more than 40 major special adaptations such as widened doorways for wheelchair access, a roll-in shower, and kitchen amenities that include pull-down shelving and lowered countertops. The home will also alleviate the mobility and safety issues associated with a traditional home, including navigating a wheelchair through narrow hallways or over thresholds, or reaching for cabinets that are too high.
HFOT has built 369 homes since the organization’s inception in 2004. Homes For Our Troops relies on contributions from donors, supporters, and corporate partners for the building of each Veteran’s home. Community members may hold fundraisers or make donations. To find out more about getting involved, or to make a donation, visit www.hfotusa.org.
