For more than 20 years, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation has offered a variety of services to injured and disabled veterans and first responders. One of their most amazing programs is the Smart Home Program, in which they build or renovate "smart homes" for those catastrophically-injured in the line of duty. These smart homes feature a variety of modifications--automated doors and lighting, wider halls and doorways, and wheelchair-accessible showers, just to name a few--that can help these injured heroes reclaim their day-to-day independence. Best of all: these smart homes are given to these vets and first responders mortgage-free!
The Container Store recently took part in the redesign of one of these homes for Tyler Tidwell of Edmond, OK. Tidwell, a Major in the United States Marine Corps, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the fall of 2019. Sadly, he quickly lost his ability to speak and much of the use of arms and legs, so he and his family have faced tremendous difficulties over the past two years. To provide assistance, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation made significant modifications to the Tidwell home. This was brought to our attention by Becky Marple, one of our In-Home Organizers, and she and several employees of our Oklahoma City store location were excited to help update and reorganize the home's mudroom and laundry areas. "The Container Store is more than a company that helps people to live a better life through organization," says store employee Brian Phillips. "It's a family of caring people dedicated to improving life for everyone."
Employees from our Oklahoma City store help install the Tidwells' new Elfa closet. (Left to right: Minita Little, Brian Phillips, Page Breece, Paula Coccimiglio)
In the area adjacent to the garage entrance, we installed two Elfa shelving solutions. The first was a column of Ventilated Wire Shelves that are used to store the family's shoes. Next to it is a pair of higher shelves for cleaning supplies, and below that are rows of hooks for jackets, bags, and umbrellas. This will enable the family to quickly grab what they need as they leave the house, or deposit these items as they walk in the door.
The other Elfa shelving solution consists of Décor Shelves designated for storing the family's laundry supplies. Many of the items are neatly stowed away in Nordic Storage Baskets or Water Hyacinth Bins with clip labels. On the lowest shelf sits an assortment of Yamazaki Tosca Baskets, Urban Wire Baskets, and Glass Canisters used to store smaller laundry accessories such as dryer balls and clothespins. Below that shelf is a handy closet rod (installed low enough so that the children can use it), as well as two Water Hyacinth Rolling Laundry Carts.
When the house was finally completed, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation held a home dedication ceremony for the Tidwells complete with uniformed service members, a police escort, and a flag raising. Upon entering their home, the family was overjoyed at all the improvements that were made. "It was a privilege to be a part of [this] gift to Major Tidwell," says Brian.
Another Oklahoma City store colleague, Page Breece, agrees. "I was excited to be a part of such a worthwhile project for Major Tidwell and his precious family," she says. "I'm forever grateful for all of our military and civil servants who put their lives on the line each and every day to protect our country. It's projects like this that make a real difference in the lives of these veteran families, and I'm most proud to have been a part of it."
