A U.S. Army veteran who was homeless received a life-changing gift from a Southwest Florida nonprofit that is dedicated to veterans helping veterans.
At Hearts and Homes for Veterans in Fort Myers Monday, one silver car was waiting out front for another veteran Alonso “Lonnie” Albino, who is homeless.
Albino was surprised when he was given the keys and told the vehicle is now his own.
Albino served in the U.S. Army, and, until the starting of the week, he was using his bicycle and public transit.
“Oh, my god. This is — it means so much to me. This is gonna open some more doors for me,” Albino stated. “I’m a heavy equipment operator by trade. I love equipment; it’s my passion.
And while Albino works to get back into his craft, the Hearts and Homes vice president, Tom Donoghue, informed us the veteran’s new wheels will bring even further meaning to how he is able to support his beloved ones.
“And he also has a handicapped son that he cares for and needs to get him to the doctor and stuff like that,” Donoghue stated.
Donoghue informed us it was a collective effort to give Albino a much-needed, personal transportation.
“It’s made possible because of very generous people that have donated this vehicle behind me that we’re donating to Lonnie Albino,” Donoghue stated.
And Hearts and Homes has a thoughtful process it executes to make the selection for beneficiaries such as Albino.
“We have some pretty good criteria that we go through to determine who we award the vehicle to,” said Donoghue.
Hearts and Homes say it’s working on finding out who needs the other car donated to its cause of helping veterans that need help.
“I just wanna thank Hearts and Homes, the VA, everybody who’s helped me get where I’m at now very much,” Albino said “Thank you.”
