Purple Heart Homes and Fifth Street Ministries invite local and regional media to witness a once-in-a-lifetime surprise. On Wednesday, Sept. 23, the two organizations will tell veteran Jim Taylor that he has been selected as the veteran recipient of the modular home being built on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Sept. 27 through Oct. 5, a hallmark event tied to America’s 250th anniversary. Following the build, the home will be transported to a donated piece of land in Glasgow, Va., where Taylor will begin his next chapter as a homeowner. Cameras will be able to capture the reveal and Taylor’s reaction, and representatives of both organizations will be available for interviews immediately following the announcement.
While Taylor will be told in advance, he does not know that the community will be coming together to celebrate him. Media are asked to help protect the surprise by arriving quietly, holding all coverage until after the reveal and refraining from contacting Taylor beforehand.
What: A surprise announcement naming Taylor the veteran recipient of the modular home being built on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Volunteers will construct the modular home on the National Mall Sept. 27 through Oct. 5, and it will then be transported to Glasgow, Va., where Taylor will make it his permanent home.
Who: James “Jim” Joseph Taylor, a Statesville veteran currently living in the Fifth Street Ministries veterans transitional homes, provided by Purple Heart Homes, along with representatives of Purple Heart Homes and Fifth Street Ministries.
When: Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 10:15 a.m. The media should plan to arrive and be in place at least 15 minutes before the reveal.
Where: Fifth Street Ministries, 1421 Fifth St., Statesville, NC 28677
RSVP REQUIRED: To preserve the surprise and manage on-site logistics, media planning to attend must RSVP to Dylan Sutton at dylan@spokeology.com or (980) 866-3488 by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22. Arrival instructions and staging details will be provided upon RSVP.
About Purple Heart Homes
Co-founded by two combat-wounded veterans, Purple Heart Homes has been bringing communities together to provide safe, barrier-free housing solutions for qualified veterans since its founding in 2008. A nonprofit organization based in Statesville, N.C., PHH supports service-connected disabled and senior veterans from all eras across all 50 states and Puerto Rico through a growing network of local chapters. Programs include critical home repairs and renovations to help veterans live independently in their homes, home ownership programs and transitional housing through partnerships with other nonprofit organizations. Learn more at purplehearthomesusa.org.
About Fifth Street Ministries
Fifth Street Ministries is a nonprofit organization based in Statesville, North Carolina, serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness, housing instability, domestic violence, and other crises throughout Iredell County and the surrounding region. Through emergency shelter, transitional and supportive housing, Veterans Services & Housing, domestic violence and sexual assault services, street outreach, counseling, case management, housing assistance, and its Community Kitchen, Fifth Street Ministries provides both immediate support and pathways toward long-term stability.
Our mission is to shelter and empower people in crisis to rebuild stability and achieve self-sufficiency. Our vision is a community where cycles of crisis are broken and every person has the opportunity to rebuild, belong, and thrive.
Learn more at www.fifthstreetministries.com.
