Unity couple founds nonprofit to provide housing for veterans

Andrew and Shela Gornik always have made a point of thanking veterans for their service. They’ve taught their four children to do the same.

“If our kids walked past a veteran, even when they were small, we would tell them, go right back there and say, ‘Thank you for your service.’ And we would say it too,” Shela Gornik said.

Now the Unity couple is showing their appreciation in a more tangible way, renovating two houses in Cook Township to provide affordable housing for veterans.

The keys to the first residence will be handed over to Bob Lesko, who served in the Air Force during the 1960s, and his wife, Joanie, during a Fourth of July party on the property at 2415 Route 711.

The Leskos, who currently live in a multistory townhouse in Whitney, both have mobility issues. Their new, one-level cottage will be fully accessible with features tailored to their needs.

“I said to Joanie, ‘What’s going to happen when I can’t take care of you?’ ” Bob said. “Shela said, ‘Don’t worry about it.’ These two are miracle workers — this really is a gift from God.”

The Gorniks bought the 3-acre Cook property in December. Along with the cottage the Leskos will occupy, it contains a single-family house that they intend to renovate into a duplex.

They also have a 5-acre property in Derry Township on which they hope to build more housing for veterans.

To be able to raise money for the projects and to facilitate working with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other support organizations, they founded the nonprofit Heroes Never Alone Inc.

‘We can do better’

A visit Andrew Gornik made with a friend who is a veteran to another, older veteran particularly spurred the Gorniks’ desire to serve those who had served their country.

“We went to a facility, just a big old house where they had rooms for the elderly to live in,” he said. “We visited a World War II vet, who is since deceased, and brought him some things, some honey and some seasoning he wanted.”

The veteran was sharing a small room and a bathroom with two other men. Each had space for little more than a bed and a dresser.

“I thought, ‘Man, these guys are packed in there,’ ” Andrew said. “I thought a World War II vet could be taken care of a little better than that.”

“When he came home, he was very upset,” Shela said. “He was teary-eyed telling me the story of this veteran.”

“I thought we could offer a better way of life,” Andrew said.

The Gorniks are well-equipped for the task of property renovation and rentals. They’ve been flipping houses for about five years.

Shela formerly worked as a rental property manager, including the complex where the Leskos currently live. Andrew, who is retired from UPS, helped with maintenance in his spare time.

They’ve been doing most of the renovations on the cottage themselves, with help from members of the congregation of Living Hope Church in Whitney and members of Pheples Federal Credit Union.

The church got involved with the project when a member driving by the property saw a sign announcing the project.

Both the Gorniks and Les­kos have started attending services at the church, which also will provide food for the July Fourth party.

Symbolic deadline

Though the Gorniks have been working diligently to complete the cottage in time for the party, the Leskos won’t actually move in until their current lease is up later in the summer.

“It’s a symbolic deadline, for the holiday and because the Fourth is Joanie’s birthday,” Shela said. “We’ll be putting in long days and long nights, but even if it’s 95% done, it will be fine.”

Besides providing comfortable, accessible and affordable living quarters, the Gorniks want to make sure residents can enjoy the rural setting south of Ligonier.

Both houses have decks, with a stone patio in between.

The Gorniks are installing a water feature and seating at the front of the property and are clearing a half-mile nature trail at the rear. They also have plans for a small, stocked fishing pond.

Some day, they also might add another cottage or two.

“We don’t want to overdevelop the property and take away from the beauty that scenic Ligonier gives us,” Andrew Gornik said.

When the duplex is ready, Heroes Never Alone Inc. will establish an application process for prospective veteran tenants.

“The amount of rent will be based on what they can afford,” Shela said.

The Gorniks intend to have an office on the property and to be on-site daily to see to the needs of their tenants.

“Both of us have always had a great appreciation and a deep respect for veterans,” Shela Gornik said.

“They’re the reason that we get to live this life we live,” Andrew added.

More information is available at heroesneveralone.org.