Purple Heart Homes to Renovate Local Home for Disabled Iraq War Veteran

The Manchester community is teaming up with Purple Heart Homes to help a wounded Iraq War veteran find a new home - but first they need more help from residents in the region.

Purple Heart Homes, a nonprofit organization founded by a pair of wounded veterans that builds homes for other wounded veterans across the country, is working with the town to secure and renovate a home for disabled Iraq veteran Sandra Lee. 

Lee volunteered for the Army shortly after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and was deployed to Iraq in December of 2003, where she served as a liaison to help rebuild schools in Western Baghdad. She was involved in four road side bomb incidents that hit vehicles she was riding in, resulting in a series of concussions that grew more serious. Lee also took fire from insurgents numerous times and had return fire without knee pads, which resulted in damage to her right knee and right shoulder. She was also raped by a fellow soldier. 

Today, Lee suffers from severe PTSD that include memory problems, constant headaches and vertigo, debilitating nightmares, depression, panic attacks, muscle strain and is now considered 80 percent disabled. 

Purple Heart Homes is working with the town of Manchester to adapt a home in the community for Lee. But first they've planned a community auction to help raise funds for  building costs associated with the project.

Brad Davis and Mary Jones from WDRC radio will host the auction of donated items on Saturday, Oct. 13, at Manchester Community College. Renovations on the home are expected to begin early in 2013, with a goal toward finishing by the end of June. 

Purple Heart Homes recently completed a home in nearby Glastonbury for with the help of the Glastonbury Rotary, the town of Glastonbury and HEART 9/11.

If you are interested in donating or participating in the auction to help benefit Lee, here is how you can get involved: 

To donate items for the auction on Oct. 13, volunteer to help with the project that will kick-off in January 2013, or donate funds or find out more information about the project, contact Vicki Thomas, Purple Heart Homes North East Regional Manager, at 203-984-2138 or email her at vthomas@purplehearthomesusa.org.