OCKLAWAHA, Fla. – A 92-year-old veteran of the Korean War was left without a home when a car crashed into his Marion County residence on August 11, leading to the building being declared uninhabitable.
Odis Fender was watching television in his Ocklawaha residence when the walls shook.
“It sounded like a bomb had hit my trailer,” Fender said, recalling the moment of impact.
The crash has left Fender facing significant challenges, with repair costs estimated at $20,000.
“I really need all the help I can get. I’m in between a rock and a hard place,” Fender said.
Villagers for Veterans, a nonprofit organization located in The Villages, has initiated a special Korean War Veteran Fund to assist Fender in finding a new place to live. Additionally, the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Club is participating in the initiative by helping to move Fender’s possessions into storage.
A fundraising event for Fender is scheduled on September 17, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Epic Old Mill Playhouse in The Villages. Attendees can enjoy live music and contribute cash donations to aid Fender’s search for new accommodation.
Fender, who enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1954, speaks to the strong bonds within the veteran community.
“They’re like your own brother. Sometimes your brother won’t help you out as much as a veteran,” he noted.
Marie Bogdonoff of Villagers for Veterans emphasized this spirit of mutual support.
“Veterans support veterans, and whenever a veteran requires help, others — regardless of their branch or duration of service — come together to offer support and make things right.”
Donations to get Odis Fender into a new home can be made at VillagersForVeterans.org.
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