The husband-wife team of Anita Pettengill and Dan Telesco founded “Make a Home Foundation” in 2010 after viewing the “Oprah Winfrey Show,” which portrayed many female veterans as homeless and suffering alone in silence. Anita and Dan realized in that moment that there was an urgent need to offer help to veterans who have sacrificed themselves in the service of this country but have ended up being challenged by circumstances, placing them in crisis situations where they have felt alone and forgotten.

Their vision quickly expanded in scope when they realized that the streets of Connecticut towns were filled with countless other victims of homelessness whose stories were every bit as dire and in need of support. So, at a tag sale one day, Anita and Dan realized there were a lot of perfectly good furniture and household items being thrown away and sent to landfills that could easily be repurposed to serve the needs of these homeless victims looking for paths off the streets and into homes. From that point, with the help of a “Little Pickup Truck," Anita and Dan’s dream took shape. As the miles piled up, so did the generous donations of furnishings, which ultimately led to a 35,000-square-foot building!

Anita and Dan have both shared a history of serving others in need. In fact, Anita has her certification in substance abuse counseling, so she came to this life’s work naturally. Having been the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, she lived with PTSD every day of her life, which ignited her inspired journey and dedication to a lifetime of serving others in need.