Army Sgt. Brian Jergens lost both legs below the knee and suffered a severe brain injury, a broken neck and damage to his right elbow in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Afghanistan in 2011. Since then, he’s been slowly recovering and undergoing therapy. Now, he’s ready to move on with his life in California.
Ewing regional manager Stacy Nord received a call in July from a customer, Nick Libby with NatureWorks Landscape, about donating irrigation parts to Homes for Our Troops, a nonprofit that builds specially-designed homes for troops injured in service, with the adaptations they require to focus on the future. After reading Brian’s story, Nord agreed to donate the material.
“The story really got to me, just what Sgt. Jergens has endured in his life to serve our country,” said Nord.
Nord worked with Libby to get the material needed for Brian’s new home in Hollister: an irrigation controller, drip system and 10,000 square feet of sod.
He then contacted local Ewing employees, asking them if they’d like to give their time on a Saturday volunteer day for Homes for Our Troops. On September 21, seven Ewing employees drove to Hollister to help install the equipment and landscape with many other volunteers from the community. The work got done in record time, even with the rain!
Brian, his wife, Jennifer, and their new son will move into their new home later this year. To learn more about Brian’s story and Homes for Our Troops, visit http://www.hfotusa.org/jergens.
