Operation United: Student veterans, Student Affairs staff volunteer time to improve veteran's yard

A Laker crew of student veterans and Division of Student Affairs staff members volunteered their time May 10 to improve the backyard and sand the deck of a Grand Rapid house owned by an Air Force veteran who is a single mother.

The project was part of the Heart of West Michigan United Way's Operation United, an annual event that mobilizes volunteers to assist veterans and active military families with house or yard projects. 

Melissa Baker-Boosamra, associate director of Student Life for civic engagement and assessment, coordinated the Grand Valley volunteers with help from Shane Scherer, director of the Secchia Military and Veteran Resource Center.

Eden Akins, a natural resources and environmental management major, said he was glad to help a veteran. Akins has served with a Michigan Army National Guard unit in Bay City for nearly four years.

"Shane told us about this opportunity and I wanted to do this," Akins said, while pulling weeds in preparation for a layer of mulch. "It's nice to give back to the community."

Hannah Plumb, volunteer center specialist for United Way, said the house in northeast Grand Rapids was among 23 projects in Kent County that were completed during Operation United. Plumb, who earned a GVSU degree in nonprofit administration in 2015, said Home Depot sponsors the event by providing mulch, other landscaping materials and yard tools.

Plumb said the homeowner said she wanted to make her backyard more livable for her two young children.