Juan Lopez’s Story: A Veteran’s Home Restored

Trouble After the Storm

Juan Lopez, a 63-year-old U.S. Army and Air Force veteran, has always been a do-it-yourself kind of guy. But when an ice storm sent a tree limb crashing through the roof of his Texas home, the damage was more than he could handle.

“I did a little patchwork,” Juan said, “but water was still seeping in.”

At the time, Juan was working seasonally as a bus driver. He had no way to afford professional repairs, so the leak went untreated. Mold began to spread, taking a serious toll on his wife’s health.

“My wife was continuously getting sick,” he said. “The mold made it very hard just for her to breathe.”

Unexpected Hope

One afternoon, Juan was eating lunch at his local Meals on Wheels community dining center — an alternative to home meal delivery that gives more mobile seniors a chance to share a meal and enjoy conversation. While at the center, he spotted a flyer for Helping Homebound Heroes, a program supported by The Home Depot Foundation that makes critical home repairs and modifications that End the Wait™ for senior veterans who need safe, healthy places to live.

Juan had no idea Meals on Wheels offered this service and called right away. A team soon arrived at his home to inspect the damage. The roof was the obvious concern, but the inspection revealed other serious problems, from corroded pipes to damaged ductwork.

“When we go into a home, we take a holistic approach — starting with the roof and working all the way down to the foundation,” said Bryan Sykes, a member of the Meals on Wheels Central Texas home repair team. “Once we leave, we want the home to be turnkey.”

In the end, crews replaced Juan’s roof and made other major upgrades, such as replacing outdated windows, installing a new furnace and adding walk-in showers with grab bars — nearly $40,000 in work.

A Veterans Day Milestone

Juan’s newly restored home marks a major milestone for Meals on Wheels America and The Home Depot Foundation: 4,000 homes made safer for senior veterans.

This achievement, announced just in time for Veterans Day, celebrates a partnership committed to honoring and supporting those who served. Since 2015, The Home Depot Foundation has invested more than $21 million in Meals on Wheels America’s Helping Homebound Heroes program.

“We couldn’t be prouder about our ten-year partnership with The Home Depot Foundation. They help bridge the gap between federal funding and private philanthropy,” said Ellie Hollander, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “By improving home safety and accessibility, we’re working together to help senior veterans stay in the places they love, for as long as possible.”

For veterans like Juan Lopez, that mission is deeply personal.

“I don’t know what I would’ve done if they had not stepped in,” Juan said. “It’s been such a blessing in our lives.”