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The Muskogee community is trying to recover from a hit to a homeless shelter for veterans

Posted at 8:56 PM, Nov 22, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-22 21:56:50-05

MUSKOGEE, Okla. - A veteran refuses to allow senseless vandalism to stop him from giving to his community. 

Cleaning up, and clearing out, the battle for these veterans. 

"We went from nothing to something," said The Barracks Founder Victor Lezama. 

A veteran himself, dreaming big when he launched it. 

It's an old nursing home he's flipping into a shelter for homeless veterans. 

The goals is to have 15 rooms that will all start out looking one way, but with a lot of hard work and support will end up looking much better. 

Each one sponsored by a local business letting each veteran know who's got their back. 

"I get calls almost every day, fellow brethren that need fellow help."

But vandals had other plans, ripping the place apart this summer; smashing toilets and cutting cords, but not his dreams. 

A dream veterans like Shawn can't let him give up on. 

"I've been cold, I've been hungry, so I understand," said veteran and The Barracks Site Officer Shawn Nesser. 

Picking up a paintbrush nowhere as difficult as picking up the pieces. 

"I was out on my own. Me, my pickup and my belongings."

He was homeless, needing a place like this, and people like Victor to care. 

"It would've meant everything." 

So he, and countless other people are getting their hands dirty, donating their time, supplies and services. 

"It's people who were willing to serve us so why shouldn't we be willing to serve them?" said volunteer Jana Allen. 

So the actions of a few will only be one stroke in a masterpieces created to save many. 

 "We don't let that stop us, being in the military we kind of find that as a challenge," Lezama said. 

For information on how you can help The Barracks with the project visit its Facebook Page

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