Congressman David Jolly led an effort to give the Martin Lott Residence a much needed makeover on this Veterans Day.
The facility on 5th Avenue North houses up to 10 veterans who are recovering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
While the Congressman took the men to a Veterans Day celebration at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center and lunch, volunteers were hard at work making improvements to the property.
Several local organizations and businesses joined forces with Congressman Jolly to give the Martin Lott Residence an exterior facelift.
They include the Abilities Foundation, Associated Builders and Contractors Florida Gulf Coast Chapter, The Home Depot, L.R.E. Ground Services, Merit Professional Coatings and Smith Fence. Representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, MacDill Air Force Base, Stetson University College of Law, USF St. Petersburg’s Veteran Service Organization, the Boy Scouts and Congressman Jolly’s staff also helped out. More than 100 volunteers spent the day helping beautify the facility.
The veterans who are staying at the Martin Lott Residence returned to the property with Congressman Jolly to find a large crowd in front of the building clapping and holding “thank you” signs. They were excited to see the improvements, which include new paint, landscaping, a privacy fence, a basketball hoop and outdoor furniture.
Congressman Jolly hopes to make the “Veterans Day surprise” an annual tradition.