Volunteers working with Sears’ Heroes at Home and Rebuilding Together on Thursday returned the good deeds of Edward Schultz, an 84-year-old World War II and Korean War veteran.
They replaced his kitchen counter, repaired shower tiles, made his bathtub more accessible and painted inside and out — fixing problems to make Schultz’s Denver home a safer place for him.
“It’s really good they’re doing the accessibility piece, which is so important,” said Tiffany Jacob, a project manager with Rebuilding Together National. “This man has been in his home for 55 years. It should be a safe place for him to grow old — a safe, healthy, warm place for him. That’s our mission accomplished right there.”
Schultz said he was “overwhelmed with all these people who take time out and share it with me and other people. By gosh, it makes you feel good. I don’t know how to put it into words; it’s just great to see people gather around.”
Schultz’s daughter Jeannine Renee said the two dozen volunteers, from Centennial-based National CineMedia, were angels for laboring in the hot sun to give back to a man who gave his service to this country.
Renee said since her mother passed away a few years ago, she has been coming over to her father’s house to help with what she can.
“We’re just common people getting through the challenges of life,” she said.
That is what made Rebuilding Together want to get involved.
“We’re very attracted to an idea that we’re helping the everyday person, the silent heroes,” said Kathryn Arbour, chief executive of Rebuilding Together Metro Denver.
The rehabilitation of Schultz’s home drew top executives from each of the organizations involved to work on the project — and meet the man behind the home.
“I just read the story about Ed, and I just thought this is an amazing man,” said Sears vice president Tom Aiello, who flew in from Chicago to help with the rebuild. “I just wanted to meet him and say thank you.”
Schultz was a member of the Army Air Corps and was serving in the Pacific Theater when Japan surrendered. He was in the service when the Army Air Corps became the U.S. Air Force, and he later served during the Korean War.
Aiello said some people look at older veterans and think their contributions are far in the past, but it is because of people such as Schultz that Americans can celebrate freedom today.
“You know, you always think this happens to other people,” Renee said. “But when it happens to you, you have to say ‘Thank you, God.’ “
Bianca Davis: 303-954-1698 or bsmith-davis@denverpost.com