Industry Donation to SECO Committee Assists U.S. Military Veterans

IIn August, at the Georgia Manufactured Housing Association’s annual meeting, a pair of $5,000 donations from SECO went to Comfort Farms and Warrior Outreach, both Georgia-based volunteer organizations that work with veterans.

SECO, a non-profit annual event and philanthropy organization for and by manufactured home community owners, raises funds to support retired service members.

Representatives from SECO and NAI G2 Commercial Real Estate met with Warrior Outreach to tour their facility and present a check.

Warrior Outreach supports veterans, service members, and their families through a variety of equine activities. It offers a way for participants to build confidence, reduce stress, and interact with horses in a relaxing way.

“Our main focus is to assist soldiers and families in transitioning and adjusting to life after traumatic occurrences and family separation due to deployments,” Warrior Outreach founder Sam Rhodes said.

Dave Jackson is an associate broker for NAI G2 Commercial Real Estate in Columbus, Ga., and serves on the board for SECO. He also served in the Army for 30 years.

Dave Jackson of NAI G2 Commercial Real Estate presents a check to the Warrior Outreach program.

Mobile Home Park Brokers donated more than $6,000 to SECO’s efforts to aid soldiers.

Organizers from Comfort Farms receive a $5,000 donation from SECO.

“One of the critical lessons you learn when becoming a sergeant is to take care of your troops, something I have carried with me since my retirement, through my career, and now with SECO,” Jackson said.

The other $5,000 donation funded by NAI through SECO was facilitated by the Georgia Manufactured Housing Association.

GMHA sponsored the delivery and setup of a pair of multi-section homes at Comfort Farms, an agrarian setting for veterans to reintegrate, connect with land, and study sustainable farm and food practices.

The organization and setting is the work of Jon Jackson, who founded Comfort Farms in honor of Kyle Comfort, Jackson’s friend and a fellow soldier who was killed in combat in 2010.

“The idea is to give them a fully furnished, walk-in and be-able-to-stay experience,” GMHA Executive Director Jennifer Lassen said.

SECO and the Veterans Assistance Program collaborated with the association’s gift of two homes by providing $5,000 that will go toward any remaining furniture needs, linens, kitchen utensils, or a washer and dryer.

In June, The Mobile Home Park Broker, a business owned and operated by Maxwell and Kathryn Baker, donated more than $6,000 to the SECO fund.

“We were all immediately motivated to help out, so we pledged a percentage of broker commissions involving SECO members to the organization’s Vets Assistance Program,” said Max Baker, who served with the U.S. Marines.

“It’s hard to imagine anyone, much less an honorably discharged U.S. vet, having to struggle through difficult times after arriving back in our country,” Baker said. “Our entire team was eager to help improve the quality of their lives. Semper fi!”

The SECO Veterans Assistance Program Committee includes retired members of the U.S. Marines, Army, Air Force,and Navy. The committee reviews all applications from community owners who submit assistance requests for residents in need who also are honorably discharged U.S. veterans.

The initiative was established after SECO co-founder David Roden learned of a U.S. veteran in his community in Georgia who used an oxygen machine and needed a room air conditioner for cooler air to withstand the summer heat and help him breathe.

The idea of helping retired U.S. Veterans who live in manufactured housing communities then grew into helping not only Veterans, but helping first responders during COVID.

Those interested in attending SECO21 or joining the organization’s effort to improve the lives of retired U.S. service members living in manufactured home communities are encouraged to visit SECO at www.secoconference.com. MHV