Jim and Daria Magee work tirelessly to help homeless veterans and former servicemembers in need of help.

And with 23 percent of America's homeless being veterans, there is no shortage of people to help. That led the couple to begin volunteering with Liberty Manor, a Tampa-based charity.  

Jim, a Vietnam veteran and Daria, raised in a military family, began working with the home several years ago by chance. Jim had a bicycle he wanted to donate and Daria suggested the place her college sorority worked with on a project years before.

"It's an international organization through Beta Sigma Phi and our chapter was part of the local Tampa City Council," Daria said. "One of our main service projects was Liberty Manor."

Liberty Manor, which provides transitional housing and services for veterans, opened in 2006.

From developmental to social needs, Liberty Manor and its staff assists vets with housing, services and benefits. Its location on 9th Street in Tampa consists of a two story house, an efficiency apartment, and a cottage that is a separate structure on the property.

"There's not a lot of programs for housing and a lot of these guys are living on the streets because they had alcohol and drug issues," Jim Magee said. "We don't ask what their issues were. We just love them because they served and were honorably discharged."

The operators of Liberty Manor describe it as a place of dignity, respect and acknowledgment. And after their first visit, Jim and Daria knew they wanted to be a part of it.

Both now volunteer many hours a week and Jim has become a board member.

"They're the true heroes," Daria said. "They're the ones who fought and brought us or freedom."

Daria and Jim said they are no heroes, just people assisting their fellow man.

"I don't think of myself as a hero," Daria said. "You're just doing for mankind. They're another human being, another person and you would want to be treated that way."