Quincy Medical Group teams with 2X4’s For Hope to build another home for a local veteran

November 11, 2021 | By J. Robert Gough, Publisher

Quincy Mayor Mike Troup, Quincy Park Board President Roger Leenerts, Army Veteran Kenny Benner, QMG CEO Carol Brockmiller break ground on the latest home to be built for a deserving veteran. Chris and Mark Lawrence of 2x4's For Hope are at the right of the photo. J. Robert Gough

Quincy Mayor Mike Troup, Quincy Park Board President Roger Leenerts, Army Veteran Kenny Benner, QMG CEO Carol Brockmiller, and Chris and Mark Lawrence of 2×4’s For Hope.

QUINCY – Quincy Medical Group and the QMG Foundation, along with the Quincy Park District, have made significant contributions to the latest tiny home project for the 2×4’s For Hope organization.

2×4’s For Hope, a 501(c)(3) founded by Mark and Chris Lawrence in May 2015, helps build homes for homeless and at-risk veterans. Each home (576 square feet) costs approximately $65,300 to construct.

QMG presented a check for $65,300 to the Lawrences Thursday morning, and the Quincy Park District donated land on the northwest corner of 2nd and Spruce in Quincy. There is enough room on the property to build two homes, and the involved parties held a groundbreaking as part of the check presentation.

Mark Lawrence said all of the labor is provided by about 100 community volunteers, as well as the veteran who will receive the fully furnished home. The exterior of the home is typically built in two days, and it takes about seven days to complete the entire project, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the eighth day.

The land was unused by the Park District. It will eventually go on the tax rolls once it is occupied.

In addition to the donation from QMG and the QMG Foundation, QMG chose 2×4’s For Hope as the recipient of the organization’s monthly Acts of Kindness initiative where participating QMG employees donated $5 for two 2×4 boards to be used to build a home for homeless and at-risk veterans.

Director of Community Relations Morgan Parker said the mission of 2×4’s For Hope is one QMG
and the QMG Foundation is glad to support.

“Being part of a build day has been something QMG has wanted to do and be involved with for a long time,” Parker said. “The opportunity presented itself with our Acts of Kindness program to support the work of 2×4’s
For Hope.”

The build is scheduled for June 2022.