Groups come together to renovate veterans’ homes

SAN JOSE

Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley volunteers and Lowe’s employees work on refurbishing the house of John Migeulgorry, 79, a Vietnam War veteran, on Tuesday in San Jose. It’s part of an effort by the company and regional group to help veterans throughout Santa Clara County. PHOTOS: DAI SUGANO — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Lowe’s employee Kimberly Montalvo high-fives Migeulgorry, who was thrilled with the work. “It’s unbelievable,” he said of the effort.

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By Dylan Bouscher and Dai Sugano

Staff writers

SAN JOSE >> John Migeulgorry was not expecting a fresh coat of paint and a new air conditioner and water heater when Lowes and Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley partnered to renovate the Vietnam War veteran’s San Jose home on Tuesday.

“It’s unbelievable — and they’re all so nice. They’re very, very thoughtful and kind,” Migeulgorry said of the dozens of volunteers who helped, adding that he initially joked with the project organizers that it would take that many folks to complete the work his house needed before they assured him that’s exactly how many people would show up.

Migeulgorry, 79, grew up in the house in the 800 block of Sixth Street, which is now valued above $1 million. He said his parents moved in to the four-bedroom, two-bathroom house shortly after it was built in 1939 and that generations of Migeulgorrys have lived in it since at least the late 1940s. He joined the Army in 1967, served in Vietnam in ’68 and returned home the following year.

The work on Migeulgorry’s home was one of three renovations the organizations agreed to complete for veterans across Santa Clara County on Tuesday — one more in San Jose and another in Morgan Hill. For Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley, which has assisted county residents with no-cost home repairs since 1991, this is one of about 300 similar renovations the nonprofit will complete this year.

To Deanne Everton, executive director at Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley, the work is about more than transforming Migeulgorry’s home into an asset for the community.

“Having a safe home is a right for everyone and being able to preserve that for a vulnerable group within our community is so important,” Everton said. “For John today, seeing the joy on his face and one of his quotes was, ‘I think this might be the best day of my life.’ So, not a bad day at work.”

The repairs completed Tuesday would have cost an estimated $90,000, but the labor and materials were donated by Lowe’s. They included exterior vinyl board and skirt replacements and landscaping, such as laying bark near plants to beautify Migeulgorry’s yard.

The three home renovations for Santa Clara County veterans are part of a national initiative by Lowe’s to support vets and their families this fall. The home improvement retailer donated $3.3 million to that effort, which funded the renovation of 79 homes nationwide.