Byron, CA – The national nonprofit organization, Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) will kick off the building of a specially adapted home for Marine Sergeant Kyle Garcia on Saturday, October 7, 2023. Sgt Garcia was injured while serving in Afghanistan.
The Community Kickoff event signifies the start of the build process and will introduce Sgt Garcia to the community. The event will be held at Delta Community Presbyterian Church 1900 Willow Lake Road, Discovery Bay, CA 94505 at 10 a.m.
The public is welcome to attend.
Sgt Garcia was inspired to join the military by his grandfather and uncles, who also served. He joined the Marines shortly after high school, serving two tours in Iraq in 2007 and 2009. He deployed a third time to Afghanistan in 2011, as a scout sniper with the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines.
On Nov. 7, 2011, Sgt Garcia was on a foot patrol in Sangin, Afghanistan, when he stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED). He immediately lost his left leg in the blast and sustained severe damage to his right leg.
The home being built for Sgt Garcia 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 364 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 on how to get involved or make a donation visit www.hfotusa.org.
- DATE: Saturday, October 7th, 2023
- TIME: Check-in begins at 9:30 am
- Start Time: 10:00 am
- RSVP: www.hfotusa.org/kgarcia
- LOCATION: Delta Community Presbyterian Church
1900 Willow Lake Road, Discovery Bay, CA 94505
Ceremony will be followed by a light lunch and an opportunity to meet Sgt Garcia! - Event volunteers needed!
Kyle Garcia was inspired to join the military by his grandfather and uncles, who also served. He joined the Marines shortly after high school, serving two tours in Iraq in 2007 and 2009. He deployed a third time to Afghanistan in 2011, as a scout sniper with the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines.
On Nov. 7, 2011, Sgt Garcia was on a foot patrol in Sangin, Afghanistan, when he stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED). He immediately lost his left leg in the blast and sustained severe damage to his right leg.
Now medically retired, Kyle lives in Northern California with his wife Crystal and their young son Louis. He is a volunteer writer coach through the organization Writer Coach Connection in his area. He is also an avid poker player. He attended law school in St. Louis, Mo., graduated with his J.D. and LL.M in 2020 and passed the CA bar in 2022. He is planning to become an associate attorney.
Pursuing these goals is difficult for Kyle while living in a home not adapted to his injuries. Because of his amputation and the injuries to his right leg, he experiences weakness, known as drop foot, which makes walking steady difficult. Stairs have become his biggest obstacle, as he has had several falls using them. Additionally, he has trouble accessing his backyard because the land is sloped, limiting his playtime outside with Louis.
A specially adapted home from Homes For Our Troops with automatic doors and an open floor plan will resolve these issues for Kyle. “The home will virtually eliminate all of the stress and uncertainty I currently have for planning to acquire an adaptable home near my family,” he says.
Kyle is choosing to build his home in Northern California, to be close to family and the VA’s prosthetic department.
Kyle and his family are grateful to be receiving the new home, which will provide a better quality of life for them. “The home will eliminate the one major cost in my life, which would free my time and resources to give back and make an impact in the lives of others,” he says.
1 comment
Thank you for your service!
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