WYOMING, Mich. — A local business is planning on doing a good deed for a military family, and they're asking for the public's help finding a worthy recipient. Michigan Screen and Window Repair on Hillcroft Avenue SW wants to replace the windows in a home owned by the widow of a U.S. military veteran.
It all started with a slip of the tongue. Someone at the business meant to say "windows" and accidentally said "widows." Just like that, Windows For Widows was born.
"It's really an opportunity for us to give back to the community. We want to give back every opportunity we can, and we thought what group is more deserving than widows, especially widows of the military community?" said owner Ryan Dalley, who noted that getting new windows can be a costly home improvement project.
"Every project is different, but usually to replace a whole house, someone's looking at $10,000 to $20,000, and some people don't have that money, but deserve to live in a house that's warm in the winter, and is safe during the summer, and all the other months, too."
The effort is part of a partnership with a veteran's organization called Hero's Corner in Kentwood. The next step is the nomination process.
"If you want to nominate a military veteran widow, it's pretty easy to do. They have to live in the local Grand Rapids area, live in and own their own home, and be a U.S. military veteran widow and they qualify," said marketing director Matt Brauning.
Nomination forms are available on the company's website. The deadline to apply is April 19, and the recipient will receive their new windows on June 23, which is National Widow's Day. But even if people don't meet the nomination deadline, company leaders still want them to apply.
"This is a program we're doing every, single year. So if they don't get in this year, still nominate someone and we'll go back through them for next year. We're looking for someone who deserves it," Brauning said.
"It means everything. It's incredible to be able to give back. It's not just the heroes. It's the sacrifices of the families, and to give back something to the families that sacrificed, it really does mean the world. And the fact that we can do it literally in our own backyard and see the smile, it's like there's nothing better."
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