Tempe Police Officers put down their regular, daily “tools” and picked up rakes and string trimmers to help their community last month.  Each graduating academy class starts off their thin blue line service with some ToolBank blue tools as an opportunity to gain empathy and connection with the local community they have sworn to protect and serve.

This month’s community member was an elderly woman who had recently lost her husband.  They were Tempe residents that had spent their entire married life in the same home, raising children and contributing to their community.  Rob Ferraro, President of the Tempe Officers Association said, “with all of the changes and challenges our neighbor has endured, landscaping should be the furthest thing from her mind, so our cops wanted to lift that load from her shoulders”.

Armed with string trimmers, rakes, action hoes and loppers these new officers set out to work in service of their community.  Just a few short hours later and her yard was back to normal, a burden lifted, and a place where she could once again enjoy.  Ferraro said “it is incredible to see what a few hard working officers can do for a community member when equipped with the right tools.  We wouldn’t have access to those right tools if it wasn’t for Phoenix ToolBank”.  Not only does ToolBank provide the tools necessary for each of their projects, the knowledgeable and trained ToolBank staff have provided tool recommendations to ensure each job is properly equipped.  ToolBank looks forward to more pictures of these transformational projects from the Tempe Officers Association as they continue to serve their community in more ways than one.

Operation Enduring Gratitude, a local nonprofit organization supporting our veterans, recently set out on their latest project to rebuild an Army Veteran’s home in Glendale.  This will be the fourth house they have rebuilt for a local veteran in need, serving those that have served our country.  In between rebuilding homes, Operation Enduring Gratitude as also built over 50 concrete wheelchair ramps for Veterans since beginning their operation almost 5 years ago.

With the help of local businesses, volunteers, and community leaders and led by Operation Enduring Gratitude’s founder and Executive Director, Charlie Ellis; Gilbert Lopez, a 76-year-old U.S. Army veteran, will be back in a fully renovated home by July 4^th.  After finding his way to Charlie through a neighbor who had reached out to the Glendale Chamber, Charlie quickly leapt into action as Gilbert had been living in “a shell of a home” for several years.  As Charlie shares, “It’s a double-edged sword.  The pride got us to the pinnacle of our career is the pride that keeps us independent. And, sometimes, we can’t do it all ourselves.”  Thanks to Operation Enduring Gratitude, Gilbert won’t have to do it all himself.  Together with volunteer hosted events, lots of hard work, and the generous donations of local contractors, Gilbert is seeing his house take shape once again.

Operation Enduring Gratitude still has several weeks of work in order to complete their mission, and if we know Charlie, their next house is right around the corner. Interested volunteers can sign up on their website at operationenduringgratitude.org.  And no need to bring tools, Phoenix ToolBank has Charlie and all his volunteers covered!