Making Waves

Celebrating Southwest Floridians

ABonita Springs-based nonprofit has plans to support a program to build tiny homes in Southwest Florida that would benefit military veterans. With established funding, the Veterans Community Project will assist Operation Tiny Home, a California nonprofit supporting armed forces vets. The program in Southwest Florida would assemble up to 25 tiny houses for veterans and their families, likely in North Fort Myers, says Veterans Community Project founder George Tice. The Bonita nonprofit had its first funding campaign in June at the Mission BBQ in Fort Myers, Tice says, with proceeds targeted to Operation Tiny Home. The village would include a community center for veterans with health and employment issues, offer peering counseling and linked services, he says. Tice has also sponsored ticket giveaways for a country music event featuring Lee Greenwood; he also plans to open a thrift shop in Southwest Florida, proceeds from that venture also used toward vet programs, he says. Tice is a U.S. Army vet who served in Desert Storm/Desert Shield campaigns in the 1990s. “It’s hard to get vets to take anything,” Tice says. “I want to answer that call.” vetscj.com