On Wednesday, April 17, 2019, the Osceola Council on Aging (OCOA) and volunteers from The Home Depot in St. Cloud (Store # 6350) and St. Cloud Police Department came together to help out a fellow Osceola County community member.  A 30 ft. wheelchair ramp was built for Bernard Hughes, a U.S. Navy Veteran, and his wife Marion so that the Hughes family could move freely in and out of their home.

U.S. Navy Veteran Bernard Hughes served from 1966-1970 during the Vietnam War. He was honored with four Bronze Stars. After his discharge as an E4, he then served as a Reserve Officer.  

“We need to support our Veterans, especially our senior Veterans who served this great country for our freedom, so they are very important to us and we are honored to serve them with dignity and care. Partnering with The Home Depot Foundation is a great partnership for our Veterans to help them keep their independence by moving more freely in their homes.”

Beverly Hougland

President, Osceola Council on Aging

“Our partnership with organizations like the Osceola Council on Aging is key for us in seeing what the needs are in the community for our Helping Homebound Heroes program because they are in tune with the Veteran families and what their needs are in our community,” said Alex Calderon, Store Manager at the St. Cloud Home Depot.

Congratulations to the Hughes Family on their new wheelchair ramp which allow the couple to safely come and go from their home. It’s with amazing volunteers, organizations, and businesses like the Osceola Council on Aging, the Home Depot in St. Cloud, and the St. Cloud Police Department, that positive, genuine acts of kindness are happening throughout Osceola County.