ALVIN, Texas — They served our country, and now, a group of local veterans are asking for your help.
What was supposed to be a small renovation at a historic Alvin Veterans of Foreign Wars post turned into a much bigger and more expensive project.
VFW Post 5237 is based in a building with a lot of history.
"It was built in 1946," VFW Post 5237 Commander Kyle Wayne said.
It was built by its own members.
"By hand by returning World War 2 veterans," Wayne said.
It's a place where vets have come together to help their community and themselves for more than 70 years.
"Trauma has a special way of bonding individuals," Wayne said.
With age comes new needs, such as making the bathroom ADA-compliant.
"It got real bad real quick," Wayne said.
What was supposed to be a simple bathroom renovation turned into so much more.
"Once it was all gutted, the contractors saw what it was ... and they walked," Wayne said.
They were left high and dry but the problems didn't end there. A hole showed up in the roof after a recent storm.
"All the shingles across the floor... ceiling tiles," Wayne said.
They've struggled to see their second home in the condition that it's in.
"We are trying to catch up and just get our head above water and we got hit again," veteran Michael Trebilcock said.
Now, they're turning to the community for help. VFW Post 5237 isn't just a building with a lot of history, it's a place to volunteer and a chance for those who've sacrificed so much to find a shoulder to lean on.
"We need to create an environment that is conducive for healing," Wayne said.
Many of those who visit VFW 5237 have put their own money up to keep things running, but they said they can't do it all on their own.
"It's a choice between finishing this project or keeping the lights on," Trebilcock said.
They're hoping that the community they've supported for years won't just help preserve their building but keep alive the fire they have to help others.
"It's somewhere where we can still be of service," veteran Mark Bilyeu said.
If you'd like to help, click here.