Share Your Story: Giving Troops Well-Deserved Comfort and Appreciation

A Snow-Melted Entrance for Wounded Veterans

Tee Shirts 4 Troops, the Indianapolis nonprofit led by president and co-founder Jim Peters, had a WarmlyYours snow melting system put in at the front entrance stairs and landing of its facility — supplied by WarmlyYours and installed by Tremain Ceramic Tile & Floor Covering. Jim sent us the story that made him a “Share Your Story” winner. Look closely at the photo above: Jim and his team are bundled in winter coats and standing barefoot on the porch. That is what a snow melting system does to a set of front steps in an Indianapolis winter.

Dear WarmlyYours Radiant,

We run a center that works with wounded soldiers from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. We recently installed WarmlyYours snow melting in the front entrance to our building; it’s usually treacherous to walk on most of the winter. Indianapolis can be rainy and can get icy, though there is not usually much snowfall. Prior to installing your product, there were many times we had to get out and chip away at the ice on the entrance landing and stairs. Obviously ice on stairs is very dangerous, especially for our wounded troops, many with artificial legs, or on crutches.

Now this is the first winter with our WarmlyYours system installed by Tremain Ceramic Tile & Floor Covering in Indianapolis, IN, and our steps and front stoop are deiced before our staff or patients even ARRIVE for the day! What a thrill, never to worry if one of our true American Heroes will fall and hurt themselves - to have confidence in this great product working every time.

Wow, what is that worth? Priceless! Thanks for producing such an amazing product!!!!

Thank You!

What Jim describes in that letter comes down to a fairly simple layout. The entrance had two problem areas — the run of front steps and the landing at the top of them — and both had to stay clear for people arriving on prosthetics or crutches. The plan below shows how the cable was routed to cover them.

The Snow Melting System at Tee Shirts 4 Troops

The system covering the entrance stairs and landing was built from 316 feet of 240 V snow melting cable, run through a relay panel and switched on with a manual SCM-120 snow melt control.

The 188 ft. cable generates roughly 12 watts per lineal foot and carries a 10-year warranty; both cables are cCSAus listed for outdoor use. The SCM-120 is a manual snow melt control, so the system is switched on by hand when snow or ice is in the forecast and switched off once the surface is clear. For your own project, review our snow melting and control options.

Why the USO Became Our Charity Project

Jim’s letter is the reason the USO became our charity project. Each quarter, we work towards supporting the efforts of a charitable organization because we truly believe that giving back is the greatest way of showing our appreciation. Reading what an iced-over set of front steps meant to men and women on prosthetics and crutches made the choice for us: this quarter is dedicated to our American troops, who are fighting for our freedom all around the world, and to the families supporting them.

We designed the project as a team effort. Teams were assigned throughout the company, and each one competed to give the most in donations to the USO for the troops. The competition ran for a full month, with a prize at the halfway mark for the team in the lead and a grand prize of one additional day of paid time off for every member of the winning team.

Additionally, we had the privilege of getting to know and work with a wonderful organization called, Tee Shirts 4 Troops, who support our troops with clothing and rehabilitation services that they need to reenter civilian life. We love the work that Tee Shirts 4 Troops does so much that we also gave 2 Infinity (plug-in) Towel Warmers to this organization, alongside the contributions our teams raised for the USO. It’s our small way of bringing comfort and warmth to our valued troops.

About Tee Shirts 4 Troops

Tee Shirts 4 Troops was started by three traveling musicians who, while on a USO tour, visited the wounded in hospitals, “It was hard not to cry, seeing Americas best with little or no clothes to wear while recouping”, said Co-Founder Debbie Lavon. “So we researched and discovered that after they’ve been wounded US troops are flown to Germany and have to wait for their duffle bags to catch up to them...a process that could take weeks! Meanwhile, the Chaplains and their wives got busy and started buying clothes to give to the troops in order to put a smile and some dignity back in their lives,” Lavon said.

Tee Shirts 4 Troops has been busy providing quality t-shirts for America’s finest. “I’ve learned the cause doesn’t have to be big it just has to be YOURS, so we’re going to try to put a shirt on every wounded GI in that theater! We’ve got big dreams but so far it’s working,” said Co-Founder/President Jim Peters.

More Ways to Follow Along

Go check out the other Community Work we’ve done in the past!

Also, if you enjoyed this story, you may enjoy reading about another “Share Your Story” winner, Michael Ferreira, “WarmlyYours Radiant is a Contractors Dream” or read through all of our winner’s stories!

We’d love to hear your story, too! Share it with us!