CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Conroe business donates container to Green Zone Housing project for veterans

The Courier - 2/11/2017

Green Zone Housing is getting a big gift to kickstart its mission to help veterans overcoming homelessness and other challenges.

Canons Park Equipment at 11368 FM 2854 in Conroe is donating one of its 40 ft. containers to the nonprofit organization, which is transforming shipping containers into fully operational homes for "deserving veterans" to combat veteran suicide and unemployment rates.

"(Owner) Mr. (Chris) Waller expressed a desire to help in any form or fashion," Green Zone Housing co-founder Mark Cook said. "He asked what he could do to help our veterans. I said, 'if you could donate a container that would helpful.' ... He has helped save a life of a veteran by his donation."

Green Zone Housing plans to provide the homes to veterans who contribute sweat equity and have graduated from programs like the PTSD Foundation'sCamp Hope. Green Zone Housing has also teamed up with Coat of Many Colors Ministries, Lone Star College, Veterans Affairs, CS Ministries, and a Plumbers Union, along with other professionals and organizations to offer training, educational services, and support to guide the veterans to success.

"I think donating this first box to get this thing kickstarted out in Montgomery (in support of veterans and the ones who really need the help coming back with struggles) is a worthy cause so that's what we did," Waller said. "Hopefully these projects they are putting together will assist in saving some lives."

The Green Zone Housing idea was devised by Cook and his partner Dave Nash in July 2016. The organization aimed to provide the first home to a veteran by early February and to eventually build an entire veteran community with the transformed crate homes in Montgomery. However, plans and funding fell short of the co-founders' projections.

The organization gained momentum with a temporary property provided by the city of Montgomery in January to host one community build and increase the organization's visibility. The project had not yet started due to the need to buy the first $15,000 home. With Waller's donation, Green Zone Housing can now get to work on the container, which will soon be delivered to the property near Burger Fresh in Montgomery. Once completed the home will go to the first Camp Hope veteran.

The organization hopes to fund the project through various means including advertising on a model home currently at Backwoods Saloon in Conroe and will be moved to Jim's Hardware in Montgomery. While Waller's donation is helpful, the organization said it is still in need of support to purchase the homes and materials, and to find a permanent piece of land to build the community in Montgomery.

At least six people have contributed $200 of a $40,000 goal for two shipping containers to be built along with additional materials needed on a GoFundMe Page set up two months ago.

To contribute, visit https://www.gofundme.com/green-zone-housing or www.GreenZoneHousing.com.

Four major sponsorship opportunities are available for $5,000 each. For more information, email mark@GreenZoneHousing.com or melanie@GreenZoneHousing.com or call 936-355-8771.