Volunteers rebuilding disabled veteran's home

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – A Clay County disabled veteran who has been living in deplorable conditions for 15 years is getting some much needed help from the community.

Joe Gainers is a 68-year-old combat disabled Vietnam veteran who received three purple hearts during his three-year tour with the National Guard Airborne Unit.

"You get hit twice and then you're thinking, 'When I get hit the third time, it's going to be all over,'" Gainers said. "That's in your mind every day you get up and go out, and fight that's on your mind every day: 'Today is my day. Today is my day.' It's too rough on you."

Gainers was hit by explosives on three different occasions, but he made it home. After the war, he worked for the city of Orange Park until he got hurt on the job.

Now he's disabled. He lives here on Miller Street in Orange Park, the home that's been in his family for generations.

Because of Gainers' disability, he can't use his bathroom, and the decaying front porch has stopped him from using his front door.

Kristina Byrd, resource development director for Habitat for Humanity, called Gainers' living situation deplorable.

"It's very disappointing to see somebody here in Clay County that has given so much to our community and our nation and is living like this and nothing has been done about it," Byrd said.

That's why Clay County Habitat for Humanity and other volunteers are gutting Gainers' entire house and rebuilding it.

They started demolition on Gainers' property Wednesday morning, with the help of local active and retired military.

"This is a blessing here for me to have this help here to have a better living condition for me," Gainers said.

The plan is to get Gainers back into his refurbished home in six weeks.

"We hope to gain some more community support and get some more volunteers to come out and help us with the deconstruction of this home so we can get it done quickly so Mr. Gainers can move back in," Byrd said.

If you want to volunteer and help rebuild Gainers' home, send an email to volunteerscchh@bellsouth.net.