01 / ACCESS
A safer way in and out.
Wheelchair ramps and landings that help a veteran move through the day with greater independence.
✦ Ohio roots. A mission of gratitude.
They served.
Now it’s our
turn to build.
No cost to the veteran. Ever.
A ramp to reach the front door. A deck to sit outside with family. We’re bringing Ohio neighbors together to build both for veterans who could use a hand.
A mission led by Charley
of Charley’s Decks, Ohio
More than a deck.
A little more freedom.
Independence A place to unwind Time together No cost to the veteran
The reason we’re here
A thank you
you can stand on.
For someone who has served, a few steps can stand between home and the world outside.
A ramp can make coming and going easier. A deck can become a place for morning coffee, a conversation with a friend, or an evening with the grandkids.
We love our veterans. Decks4Vets is our way of turning that appreciation into something useful, personal, and built to last. Every selected project will be provided at no cost to the veteran.
Tell us who we can helpService remembered. Neighbors supported.
Honoring veterans
of every branch.
A shared commitment to the people who served. Our mission starts with their everyday needs at home.
- Army
- Marine Corps
- Navy
- Air Force
- Space Force
- Coast Guard
What we want to make possible
Small changes.
Everyday possibilities.
Thoughtful projects, shaped around the person who will use them.
02 / CONNECTION
Room for the good moments.
A welcoming outdoor space to relax, gather with family, and enjoy being home.
The launch campaigns
Three ways to show up.
Start with the action that fits you. Every selected build will be free to the veteran.
Launch campaign
The First Build
A ramp that makes the front door easier to reach. A deck that puts time outdoors back on the calendar. Help Decks4Vets prepare its first project at no cost to the veteran.
Explore The First Build
Veterans Day campaign
A Way Outside
This Veterans Day, think of a veteran who could use a safer way in and out of their home or a place to spend time outside. With their permission, tell us what would make a difference.
Explore A Way Outside
Community partner campaign
The Build Crew
If you supply decking, railings, lumber, or hardware, or work in the trades, tell us how you could help a future veteran build. One useful offer is a place to start.
Explore The Build CrewFrom one neighbor to another
Good people.
Something good built.
- 01
You tell us their story.
Nominate a veteran. Share what would make everyday life a little easier.
- 02
We work out the plan.
We review needs, location, property permission, and what can be built.
- 03
A community comes together.
As funding and materials become available, selected projects move toward a build.
- 04
Charley gets to work.
A well-built space, a grateful community, and no bill for the veteran.
We’re just getting started. Timing and selections will depend on resources and project feasibility.
Starting close to home
Ohio first.
A bigger mission ahead.
Our launch focus is all of Ohio and nearby communities across the state line. We’ll grow one project, one crew, and one community at a time.
- All of Ohio
- Eastern Indiana
- Western Pennsylvania
- Southern Michigan
- Northern Kentucky
This is our planned launch region, not a promise of immediate service. Outside these areas? Join the list so we know where support is growing.
Help the mission grow Planned launch region Future reach
Nationwide is the goal.
Community by community is the plan.
Help build the first thank you
Bring a little
more home.
Every great build starts with people who care. Be among the first to hear when giving opens and our first project takes shape.
Materials & construction Better outdoor access A place to enjoy life
Proposed uses of future support. Project budgets and the financial relationship with Charley’s Decks will be published before fundraising begins.
Building our launch community
The first build
starts with us.
We’re getting the foundation in place. Add your name and we’ll let you know when you can help fund a veteran’s project.
No payment today
No pledge or obligation
First to hear when giving opens
Donation checkout is not open yet.
A clear start. Decks4Vets is not yet established as a tax-exempt charity. We’ll publish the receiving organization and tax details before accepting donations.
Meet the builder behind the missionA builder. A neighbor. A grateful American.
Hi, I’m Charley.
Let’s build a thank you.
I’ve been building decks in Ohio through Charley’s Decks since 2006. I know how much a good outdoor space can change the way a family enjoys home.
With Decks4Vets, I want to put that experience to work for veterans who could use a helping hand. Sometimes that means a wheelchair ramp. Sometimes it’s simply a comfortable place to sit outside and relax.
They’ve given a lot.
I think we can build them something that says, “We appreciate you.”
Charley NellCharley’s Decks · Medina County, Ohio
See Charley’s Decks There’s a place for you here
Many hands. One mission.
Know a veteran?
You may know someone who would never ask for help themselves.
Nominate themHave materials to offer?
Lumber, decking, railings, fasteners. Tell us how you’d like to help.
Become a materials partnerWant to lend a hand?
Builders, volunteers, and local businesses can help the mission grow.
Put your name on the listThe people behind each future build
A place to recognize
those who give back.
Meet our Wall of Honor: a home for founding supporters, top donors, materials partners, and the people who help turn gratitude into a place to enjoy life.
Recognition will begin with confirmed support and each donor’s permission. Every contribution matters, including those given anonymously.
Explore the Wall of HonorDecks4Vets field guides
Help starts close to home.
Three practical ways to help an Ohio veteran on Veterans DayAsk what would help, share a nomination with permission, or offer materials and skills to a local veteran build.
How to nominate a veteran for a wheelchair ramp or deckWhat to include in a Decks4Vets nomination, who can submit, and what happens during the review.
What does it cost the veteran?
Nothing. Selected Decks4Vets projects are provided at no cost to the veteran. Veterans and their families do not need to donate, fundraise, or make a purchase to be considered. A nomination is free, too.
Who can be nominated?
A U.S. military veteran who could benefit from safer outdoor access or a place to rest and spend time with family. You can nominate yourself, a family member, a friend, or a neighbor. We are beginning with Ohio and our nearby launch region.
What kinds of projects are you planning?
Wheelchair ramps, access landings, decks, and outdoor spaces for rest and connection. Every project will depend on the veteran’s needs, property conditions, permissions, permits, available funding, and build capacity.
Does a nomination guarantee a build?
No. A nomination starts a review. We will follow up about the need, service history, location, property permission, and project feasibility before a selection is made. There is no fee to submit a nomination, and selected projects are provided at no cost to the veteran.
Are donations tax deductible?
Decks4Vets is in its launch stage and is not currently established as a tax-exempt charity. We are not accepting money or issuing charitable tax receipts through this site. Before giving opens, we will publish the qualified receiving organization, tax status, and receipt information.
Can I help if I’m outside the launch region?
Yes. Join the launch list, share the mission, or tell us about materials and volunteer skills you could contribute. Our long-term goal is to grow nationwide as funding and local build capacity allow.
How will you show where the money goes?
Before fundraising begins, we plan to publish the project-cost and contractor-compensation policy. As projects happen, our goal is to share budgets, progress, and completed work with the veteran’s permission. There are no completed Decks4Vets builds or fundraising totals being claimed on this site.
Gratitude looks good in work boots.