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Through our annual business card ad drive, readers of The Merchant Magazine and Building Products Digest have donated $4,575 to Homes For Our TrooPs, a nonprofit group that completes home-adaptation projects for severely wounded soldiers.

Since it began in 2OO4, the group has received $7 million in donations from individuals and corporations and completed 11 home-adaptation projects. Another l5 projects in l2 states are in various stages of completion' but the waiting list for adapted homes keeps growing'

"Homes For Our Troops is dedicated to building specially adapted homes for disabled veterans, as long as there is a need," said founder John Gonsalves, who has 20 years experience in construction and remodeling.

After seeing wounded soldiers on the news, he wondered how they would adjust when they returned home. Wanting to help, he searched for a volunteer organization that could use his construction skills. When he could not find one, Homes For Our Troops was born.

"I recently made another trip to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., and saw many severely injured veterans," said Gonsalves. "This is something most Americans do not see, but it had a profound effect on me. We all need to unite, to support and help them."