Spending an afternoon with the Vanderbecks on United States Marine Corps base, Camp Pendleton, was a joy for Furnishing Hope’s volunteers. On August 2, 2011, with the help of donations from Living Spaces furniture and BECCA swimwear, the Furnishing Hope team transformed a house into a home for Corporal (Cpl) Aaron Vanderbeck, and his wife, Rachel.
Cpl Vanderbeck’s right elbow was injured with fragments during a gun fire fight in Afghanistan from a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) incident, in mid-July 2011. A humble Vanderbeck displayed the tattoo on his inner left arm when requested. Dylan Thomas’ first few words of his famous poem “Do Not Go Gentle…”are inscribed over an outline of a religious cross. The chosen poem gives great insight into the intensity and seriousness in which Vanderbeck carries out his duties as a Marine.
Rachel was in Fort Worth, Texas, living with her mother and eight month old daughter, Ariella, when she received the call from Cpl Vanderbeck. She said, “He didn’t tell me much about what happened, except that he was breathing and talking.” Vanderbeck was medically evacuated from Afghanistan to Germany where he went under for two surgeries within 24 hours, all before he could call Rachel.
Furnishing Hope had arrived within a week after Rachel flew out to Oceanside, California with her mother and daughter to meet Cpl Vanderbeck. She and her family stayed in a hotel until they could move into their new housing on base.
Upon first look of her new teal couch and paisley shower curtain, Rachel was overjoyed. “You have matched what I requested exactly. I can’t believe how perfect it is – I would have picked it out myself!” she exclaimed. Rachel showed the design team a picture her mother took of her in a home goods store recently, standing by pillows to capture the colors. The design team worked hard to match the request of this Furnishing Hope client without viewing the picture, creating another successful installation.
Learn more about Furnishing Hope’s work with the Vanderbeck family here.
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