DREAM Teams Up With The Service Politics Institute

DREAMers at Birchwood came out to help raise a neighbor's roof as part of a Service Politics project to highlight veterans' needs.

Local and state politicians pitched in for the work and discussed vet issues with other volunteers. DREAMers took a break to pose with Vermont Congressman Peter Welch.

Learn more about Service Politics.

Story from WCAX: http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?s=6636376

Roofing Project Benefits Veteran Milton, Vermont - June 9, 2007

Dave Schagnon gave 7 1/2 years of his life to his country serving two tours in the Navy during the Vietnam War. On Saturday his community had a chance to give something back to him -- a new roof.

"I've been trying to get a new roof on it but it costs a lot of money, money I didn't have," Schagnon said.

The Service Politics Institute is a non-profit organization that brings volunteers, policy makers and non-profit leaders together to work on different community projects. "We're going to be giving him a pitched roof, we're also going to be giving him a garden, his wife has always wanted a garden and paint the exterior of his house," said SPI executive director, Sarah Suscinski.

For this project, Service Politics partnered with Chapter 829 of the Vietnam Veterans of America to not only help a veteran but also to find out what the state can be doing to help better serve veterans' needs. "The cost of the war has to include the cost of caring for the warriors. This is a local example of what we can do to help people on a human level with our own efforts," said Congressman Peter Welch, who pitched in on the project.

Ten year-old Michael Bourne was one of the volunteers from the Dream Program lending a helping hand in the garden. "We'll be putting lettuce, tomatoes, herbs. I want to make his life awesome," Bourne said.

And so does Schagnon's friend Marcus Murphy. Murphy says in life there are two kinds of people. "Those who need a little help and those can help a little, and it could change overnight, which one you are," Murphy said.

"It's just so fantastic. I've never seen anything like it." Schagnon said. He says he'll never lose another night of sleep knowing he has a stable roof over his head.

Jessica Abo - WCAX News