Volunteers help 96-year-old Veteran in Shoreline from falling behind in home repairs

A 96-year-old Veteran who is facing code violations from the city of Shoreline got a little help from volunteers on Friday.

Carl Garrison, a World War II Veteran, couldn’t believe his eyes when he stepped outside of his Shoreline home.

“I’m just totally awed,” Garrison said. “I can’t believe it’s happening to me. I feel like I’m just a guy.”

Garrison built his house in 1984 with his family, including his children, Richard and Nancy.

“He built it almost by himself,” Nancy Garrison said. “Big pieces of concrete. So, memories like that of hard work. Just keeping diligent and taking care of his family. So, for us, that’s the memory of the house.”

Carl Garrison has lived in the house since he built it, but as the years have gone by, his health has declined.

He now needs a hearing aid, and even though he still exercises twice a day, he still uses a walker to get around.

Maintaining his home has become a burden for Carl, and it was also becoming a burden for the city of Shoreline.

“The city wanted to fine us,” Richard Garrison said. “Ongoing fines and problems that had to be solved here.”

That’s when Home Depot stepped in.

Jason Kirk, a fellow Veteran, manages a Home Depot in Seattle.

Kirk joined dozens of other volunteers with the Home Depot Foundation and Westcare Washington to bring Carl’s home back up to code, and much more.

Not only did volunteers lay landscape fabric in the yard so they could put beauty bark down, they plan on building a ramp up to his porch.

“So fortunate,” Carl said. “I’m sad for the people that didn’t make it, but I’m so fortunate.”

Carl was married for more than 70 years, losing his wife just three years ago.

The Garrison family said it’s impossible not to think of her Friday, but they still have each other at the same home they built together.

“I can’t believe it’s happening to me,” Carl said. “And I still have my family with me.”