‘I’m very thankful’: Fort Stewart Soldier uses AER grant to repair home

Amanda Kim Stairrett | Army Emergency Relief | Oct. 28, 2024

Sgt. 1st Class John Bones and his Family own a beautiful home in Richmond Hill, Georgia, but they’ve lived in a hotel since early August. When Hurricane Debby hit the Southeastern United States on Aug. 5, flooding caused a nearby levee to fail a few days later. The Bones’ neighborhood almost disappeared under feet of water.

As Bones said last week from his hotel room, everything four feet and below on the first floor of his home — drywall, insulation, flooring, cabinets, fixtures, furniture — was ruined and the structure had to be stripped to the studs. And that was after removing eight to 12 inches of water. The damage caused about $40,000 in repairs alone. Add to that the cost of replacing household items that had to be discarded because of water and mold damage, and the financial burden was immense. Insurance didn’t cover any of it.

Bones, like many Soldiers affected by this hurricane season’s devastating storms, applied for and received assistance from Army Emergency Relief. Immediately following a disaster, eligible Soldiers and Army Families can receive $600 AER grants to aid in their evacuation and stabilization-in-place. They are then eligible for recovery grants and zero-interest loans after that initial phase.

A member of the AER headquarters team saw Bones’ application for an evacuation and stabilization-in-place grant and realized $600 wasn’t nearly enough to help pay the Bones Family’s hotel bill or get them back into their home. AER CEO Tony Grinston, who served as the 16th Sergeant Major of the Army, approved a grant increase for the Bones Family: $25,000 to help pay for temporary lodging and home repairs.

The grant increase was a direct result of the significant funding AER received from the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which allows nonprofits like AER to aid Soldiers quickly in their time of need. With the foundation’s funding boost, AER has supported more than 5,000 Soldiers, retired Soldiers and Army Families impacted by storms this hurricane season thus far.

“We recognize these natural disasters can be life-altering events, and Army Emergency Relief is committed to providing vital assistance,” Grinston said.

The $600 grants often cover essential expenses like temporary lodging, meals due to loss of utilities and fuel, but sometimes AER must take a personalized approach and tailor support to ensure Soldiers and Army Families receive the most effective assistance.

“By understanding that every case is unique,” Grinston said, “we can provide meaningful relief and help bridge the financial gaps created by these devastating storms.”

Charles Durr, AER’s director of assistance operations, encouraged Soldiers and Army Families to ask for help when they need it.

“Before using your credit cards or resorting to high-interest loans, please talk to us and find out if you qualify for more assistance,” he said.

Bones used the AER grant and received additional funds from other agencies as well to begin the extensive house repairs. He expects he, his wife, their two children and his father-in-law — a retired Army medic — will be back in their home by Christmas. By then, the Family will have two retired Soldiers. Not only is Bones dealing with this emergency, but he is also doing it while trying to retire after 21 years of service and start the next phase of his career: pursuing an accounting degree and HVAC apprenticeship.

“I’m very thankful,” Bones said of AER’s financial assistance.

Related: