DrivinTooFast
enthusiast
Posts: 1874
Reg: 02-20-08
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06-12-14 04:17 AM - Post#169093
Hello gang,
I am up in Amarillo this week processing a large lot of "scrap" equipment I purchased from the VA. My oh my the government's teet is a rich nectar! I needed day labor to help complete the job. So I asked around and was pointed towards the local hot spots of undocumented workers. I stopped into the local Chase bank branch to get some cash to pay the workers and talked to a teller. She told me about a program dedicated to helping vets near and I should stop in there to ask if any of the vets there were interested in working.
So went in and the place is beautiful. It acts as a half way house for troubled vets. After talking with a few staff we have a couple of guys out there to lend a hand. In general I could have gotten a few of the typical day laborers to help, but this is a VA project and I felt it would be more appropriate to have the vets.
The guys were great with no language barriers nor infighting between workers. They immediately knew what we were trying to do separate trash, from metal scrap to items being brought back to Dallas for sale, We uncovered an all terrain manual pallet jack that was not working, put out for scrap. Turns out it was never used and damaged while opening the box. One vet said - "Give me a minute". I brought over some tools and with a little pulling, wrenching and prying we had it fixed. We was a former Air Force mechanic during Viet Nam. BUT, we did not know how to operate it. A second vet said push this, pump that and viola we had a $1000 pallet lift operational. Now we were moving. He was a sergeant and KNEW how to get stuff done.
I needed to rent a forklift to load the semi. "ANYONE use a forklift before??" "Right here sir!". Please do not call me sir, I should be calling you sir. The closest I got to war was watching HBO's band of brothers.
When all is said and done, these guys are getting a huge bonus and after all the sales are done I will be gladly be writing a check back to the organization for doing such important work in helping our boys out. I could have just piled in a few younger and stronger kids from the local depot, but I am ecstatic about my "disabled" crew. We may take a few more water breaks and a few more aspirin to make it through, but by we will accomplish our mission.
Here is the organization.....
http://www.anotherchancehouse.org/
I'll be back next week to Dallas with a semi or two full of equipment hitting ebay. But these guys in my crew are my heroes.
A few were also a little perturbed at the amount of quality stuff being thrown onto the trash heap. There seems to be no money for the vets, but plenty of money to throw quality stuff out into the backyard trash pile. I agree.
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bbaker
enthusiast
Posts: 712
Loc: allen,tx.,usa
Reg: 09-08-00
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06-12-14 07:56 AM - Post#169098
In response to DrivinTooFast
Kudos to those Veterens and kudos to you sir for hiring them. I am Patriotic Instructor with the Ladies Auxilary Richardson post 8627 and will bring this to our meeting next month and will research such programs locally and pass the information on. I give to the Paralyzed Veterans of America but, it isn't nearly enough. There are so many Veterans need our support in one way or another for a variety of reasons. Please folks, remember our Veterans and those still serving. Thank you DTF.
bbaker
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Al C
enthusiast
Posts: 5920
Loc: McKinney/Allen, TX
Reg: 02-16-01
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06-12-14 11:28 AM - Post#169101
In response to DrivinTooFast
 
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bsnelson
enthusiast
Posts: 873
Loc: Allen, TX 75013
Reg: 10-14-05
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06-12-14 09:38 PM - Post#169109
In response to Al C
Bravo, DTF. This is a fantastically good deed. Thanks for sharing the story with us!
Brad
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