Veterans work together to build furniture

Decades after handling an M14 and flying in planes in the Vietnam War, Gene Wotring found himself sleeping on the streets of Tampa Bay. His life had changed dramatically from his days as a soldier, but one company has given him a renewed sense of purpose.

"I have my own place now," he said. "I'm a productive member of society. I'm not living off the community."

VetMade Industries, a non-profit company based in Tampa, employs about a dozen disabled veterans. Instead of dealing with weaponry, though, its staff wields saws, sanders and power drills.

They build everything from classic Adirondack furniture to custom-made, contemporary pieces. It's this work ethic that sets them apart from many other charitable organizations, said VetMade Industries owner John Campbell.

"We're not walking around constantly with our hat in our hand ... looking for handouts," he said. "We make the finest pieces of woodworking items that could be made."

The veterans are taught basic carpentry skills before building anything, and when they do build, it's entirely from scratch.

"We basically take a tree and turn it into a chair," Wotring said.

Many of VetMade's employees say they'd be homeless if they didn't get a job with the company. Others say it provides a sense of fulfillment.

"You have a sense of accomplishment - you want to get up in the morning," says Wotring. "People don't understand that. It's kind of difficult when there is no place to go, nothing to do."

For more information about honzon Industries, visit www.honzon.com.