Volunteers Provide Free Home Repairs for Veterans in East Hartford, Meriden

Local nonprofit House of Heroes Connecticut completes repairs on three homes for veterans and surviving spouses.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 5:10pm

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A vibrant, abstract grid of brightly colored home repair tools, including a toolbox, hammer, and nails, conceptually representing the volunteer-driven initiative to assist veterans with home maintenance.A community-driven effort to provide free home repairs for local veterans reflects the power of neighbors helping neighbors.Hartford Today

A local nonprofit called House of Heroes Connecticut spent Saturday providing free, one-day home repairs for veterans and surviving spouses in East Hartford and Meriden. The organization has now served 298 veterans since 2012, including repairing the home of Airman 2nd Class Lonald Robinson, who passed away in 2018. More than a dozen Hartford HealthCare volunteers showed up to help with the repairs, which included cleaning up the yard, repairing the deck, and replacing the stairs.

Why it matters

This initiative by House of Heroes Connecticut demonstrates the community's commitment to supporting local veterans and their families, especially those who may be struggling to maintain their homes. The repairs help provide a sense of pride and stability for the recipients, many of whom are on fixed incomes or have limited resources.

The details

House of Heroes Connecticut partnered with local companies and organizations to complete the free home repairs for three veteran households in East Hartford and Meriden. The repairs included yard cleanup, deck repairs, and stair replacements. One of the homes belonged to the late Airman 2nd Class Lonald Robinson, whose daughter Sandra Murray said the assistance was greatly appreciated, as keeping up with home maintenance has been challenging since her father's passing in 2018.

  • House of Heroes Connecticut has been providing these free home repair services since 2012.
  • The latest round of repairs took place on Saturday, April 18, 2026.

The players

House of Heroes Connecticut

A local nonprofit organization that provides free home repairs and modifications for veterans, military members, and their surviving spouses.

Lonald Robinson

An Airman 2nd Class who passed away in 2018, leaving his daughter Sandra Murray to maintain his East Hartford home.

Sandra Murray

The daughter of the late Airman 2nd Class Lonald Robinson, who received assistance from House of Heroes Connecticut to repair her father's home.

Hartford HealthCare

A healthcare system that provided more than a dozen volunteers to assist with the home repair projects.

Charlene Buden

A 15-year volunteer with House of Heroes Connecticut who says the work has become a tradition for the group.

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What they’re saying

“'When he bought this house, he was extremely proud that he moved from Manchester to East Hartford. And he kept this place looking gorgeous.'”

— Sandra Murray, Daughter of Lonald Robinson

“'They fix this, they fix that. I was really excited knowing we had the help.'”

— Sandra Murray, Daughter of Lonald Robinson

“'I think we all work well as a group. And we enjoy working with each other. We just show up. Show up and do what we have to do, then go home afterwards.'”

— Charlene Buden, 15-year volunteer with House of Heroes Connecticut

What’s next

House of Heroes Connecticut plans to continue providing free home repair services for veterans and their families in the East Hartford and Meriden communities on an ongoing basis.

The takeaway

This initiative by House of Heroes Connecticut demonstrates the power of community-driven efforts to support local veterans and their families, especially those facing financial or physical challenges in maintaining their homes. By partnering with local organizations and volunteers, the nonprofit is able to make a tangible difference in the lives of those who have served our country.