Are you the type of person who enters your garage and keeps your eyes straight ahead on your car so you don’t see the conglomeration of things stored there? Is a shelf lined with the lamp you got from Aunt Minerva on your 60th birthday and you still can’t find anything about it to admire? Has the clock you were going to fix last year found its way beneath the workbench? Did the set of dishes you just had to have for a fancy bridal shower you were hosting end up in a huge box sitting next to the door?

How about that recliner that sags just a bit from where a derrierre was always plopped? And is that kitchen table and chairs still in halfway decent condition? Does that big plastic bin hold the towels which no longer go with the new color of your bathroom walls? And are you tired of the quilt you got as a gift from your ex mother in law still draped over your wood horses?

Instead of slamming the door in a hurry so you don’t have to look at all this mess all the time, why not call Hearts and Homes, located at 2230 Alicia St. in Ft. Myers, or give them a quick call on 239-674-1719 to make a free of charge pick up . They take household items in decent condition and donate them to homeless veterans as well as the low income veterans in Southwest Florida.

Hearts and Homes services 5 counties; DeSoto, Charlotte, Lee, Hendry and Collier. They have been in existence since 2013 and have as their mission to end homelessness for all veterans. When you get new furniture, instead of tossing the old to the curb, call them to come and get it, as it may be just the item needed to supply a found home.

Like our VFW Post 4174 in Lehigh Acres, the serving of veterans is an important part of the Southwest Florida area and we should all be willing to do our part in helping the organizations which exist in this part of the community. By donating household items and furniture, you are also helping solve the problem of all the trash that is constantly being generated. It’s a win-win solution for everyone involved!

If you make the call and help a veteran, and the county at the same time, you’ll be glad you did!