Some weekends are about more than the work itself. This past weekend in Setauket, more than 50 students from The Stony Brook School and the Three Village Central School District spent a full day restoring the yard of a local U.S. Army veteran — and Madison Ave Construction was proud to be one of the partners lending tools, materials, and a few extra sets of hands. The day was organized through the Act of Valor Foundation's Youths Helping Heroes at Home program, which brings young people together to honor those who served through hands-on service in their own communities.
It's the latest in an ongoing series of volunteer restoration and beautification projects that bring elementary, middle, and high school students together to say thank you to veterans — not with words, but with a full day of real work.
Every opportunity to give back is a reminder of why community matters so much to us. To the veterans who have served our country: thank you for your service and sacrifice. It is an honor for our team to use what we do best to give something back.
A Full Day of Yard Work, Done Together
Volunteers restored the veteran's outdoor space from the ground up. The day's work included weeding garden beds and walkways, raking and bagging leaves, mowing the lawn, trimming hedges and overgrown shrubs, clearing debris, and edging along sidewalks and planting beds — leaving the homeowner a clean, well-kept yard heading into the new season.
Students worked in teams under the guidance of adult volunteers and skilled-trades partners, learning not just how to do each task safely and thoroughly, but why it matters. A well-maintained home is a tangible way to say thank you to someone who served — and for a lot of these young volunteers, it was a first real look at what it means when a whole community shows up for one of its own.
The Partners Who Made It Happen
A day like this takes a village. The project came together through The Home Depot South Setauket, HNR Restorations, Three Village Kitchen and Baths, and Madison Ave Construction, who together supplied the materials, tools, professional guidance, and on-site support that let the students focus on service instead of logistics.
That model — local schools, families, tradespeople, and retailers all rallying around a single veteran's home — is exactly what Youths Helping Heroes at Home was built to grow. We're grateful we got to be part of it.
About Youths Helping Heroes at Home
Youths Helping Heroes at Home engages elementary, middle, and high school students in volunteer restoration and beautification projects that honor veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. The program teaches service, craftsmanship, and character by putting young people to work alongside adult mentors in real homes and community spaces across Suffolk County.
It's run by the Bob Feller Act of Valor Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Port Jefferson Station, New York, that honors service, sacrifice, legacy, and citizenship — inspiring young people through the example of those who have served the nation.
Why Madison Ave Construction Shows Up
We spend our days restoring and rebuilding homes across Long Island and NYC. Every so often, we get to point those same skills at something that isn't about a job at all — just a way to say thank you to the people who earned it. Supporting our veterans and the communities we work in is something we'll always make room for.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Youths Helping Heroes at Home?
It's an Act of Valor Foundation program that engages elementary, middle, and high school students in volunteer restoration and beautification projects honoring veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. It teaches service, craftsmanship, and character by putting young people to work alongside adult mentors in real homes and community spaces across Suffolk County.
Who took part in the Setauket veteran yard restoration?
More than 50 students from The Stony Brook School and the Three Village Central School District, along with adult volunteers and local business partners — The Home Depot South Setauket, HNR Restorations, Three Village Kitchen and Baths, and Madison Ave Construction — completed a full day of yard restoration for a local U.S. Army veteran.
How can I support veterans in my community on Long Island?
There are many ways to help, from volunteering with local service organizations and programs like Youths Helping Heroes at Home to supporting businesses that give back. Even simple acts — like helping an older or disabled veteran with home and yard maintenance — make a real difference. You can learn more about the Act of Valor Foundation and its programs on their website.
A Contractor That Shows Up.
From emergency restoration to giving back where we live and work, Madison Ave Construction brings the same crew and the same standards across Long Island and NYC.
Call (844) 760-9303