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Small Change, Big Impact: Davis Intermediate Students Help Fund Home for Veteran

  • News
Small Change, Big Impact: Davis Intermediate Students Help Fund Home for Veteran

Davis Marauders recently had the opportunity to witness firsthand how their generous donations of pocket change and birthday money on “Quarter Fridays” made a real difference in someone’s life.

Davis Intermediate social studies teachers and students were invited to be a part of the Homes For Our Troops Key Ceremony in which Marine Lance Corporal Phillip Quintana and his family were presented with keys to their brand new mortgage-free home on Saturday, Jan. 25.

Davis Intermediate Veterans Key Ceremony
Davis Students at the Veterans Key Ceremony

LCpl Quintana was injured in Afghanistan in 2005 when his vehicle was hit by an IED [improvised explosive device].

“The explosion took my left leg, broke my back, injured my right leg and gave me a TBI [traumatic brain injury],” LCpl Quintana said.

Davis Intermediate Veterans Key Ceremony
Davis Intermediate Veterans Key Ceremony

The brand-new home, constructed by Homes For Our Troops, was custom-designed to meet his unique needs.

LCpl Quintana faces challenges navigating his current home in a wheelchair.

“I’m looking forward to the shower and wider hallways, not clipping doors or baseboards,” he said. “Even cooking -- I love cooking. It’s going to change our lives.”

Davis Students at the Veterans Key Ceremony
Davis Students and Staff at the Veterans Key Ceremony

The mission of Homes For Our Troops is to build and donate specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans, to enable them to rebuild their lives.

Angie Peters, Davis fifth-grade social studies teacher, was invited to speak at the Key Ceremony. She explained the effect donating to Homes For Our Troops has had on students at Davis.

“Our fifth and sixth graders become more passionate about the cause with every war and conflict they learn about in our history classes,” Peters said.

Davis Students at the Veterans Key Ceremony

Over the last two years, she and her students have gotten to know LCpl Quintana.

“Mr. Quintana has been selfless enough to journey out to our campus and brave enough to face our students and share his powerful story on more than one occasion,” Peters said. “Further proving his commitment to service.”

As a “gesture of hope and a bright future,” Davis students presented the Quintana family with a gift during the Key Ceremony.

Sixth-grader Addison Lee and fifth-graders Eleanor Nelson and Ella McCants gifted the Quintana family with rocks they and their classmates had painted. The Quintana family placed the painted rocks in front of their new home.

Hand painted rock garden
Davis Intermediate Veterans Key Ceremony Ribbon Cutting

“It was like everything came to life,” McCants said. “Everything we have seen in the videos about the house was true! I got to see it!”

Davis Students at the Veterans Key Ceremony
Davis Students at the Veterans Key Ceremony

McCants’ father, Matthew McCants, also attended the ceremony. He shared the impact it had on his daughter in an email to Peters.

“I have never been more proud of Ella than I was today,” Matthew wrote. “Seeing her stand next to you with such gratitude and compassion, is a moment I will never forget. When we were driving back to Wylie, she asked if we could keep being a part of HFOT and how much more we could help. I have always told Ella that I don't care if you're the smartest student, the best athlete, the best singer, etc. All I care about is if you make this world a better place, have compassion, and bring joy to others.”

Founded in 2004, Homes For Our Troops has built and given 405 homes to Veterans and is currently building 66 more homes, with zero cost to the Veteran.

“To any donor or supporter out there, I’d like to say thank you,” LCpl Quintana said. “Thank you for giving me a chance, giving us a chance, allowing me to be able to breathe. It means the world to me; it means the world to my wife and my family. Homes For Our Troops is a Godsend for us.”

Davis Intermediate Veterans Key Ceremony

To find out how you can help Build Homes and Rebuild Lives, visit the Homes for Our Troops website. To learn more about LCpl Quintana’s story, visit his recipient page on the Homes for Our Heroes website

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