Efforts Continue to Help Local Veteran Save Hamburg Home Efforts Continue to Help Local Veteran Save Hamburg Home

7/9/14 - Community efforts continue to not only try to save the longtime home of a local Veteran but help give his spirits a boost. The Livingston County Department of Veterans Affairs has been working to assist Ross Dahlberg, who will be turning 83 next week and lost his Hamburg Township home in a sheriff sale. The goal is to raise $132,000 before the redemption period is up on September 26th. In addition to donations, Veterans Benefits Counselor Josh Parish says there’s been an outpouring of support and he receives daily words of encouragement to pass along to Dahlberg. Parish says his job is very unique in that he gets to help people in need. After pouring over Dahlberg’s case file that is almost four inches thick and well documented, he’s confident the foreclosure wasn’t Dahlberg’s fault. Parish says Dahlberg reached out to his banks and sought assistance through a state program but just wasn’t able to fix the situation on his own – adding he was pleasantly surprised to learn Dahlberg got as far as he did with such limited resources. Parish tells WHMI he understands the situation before them and doesn’t know how this story will end but giving up was never an option, and that’s not just because Dahlberg is a Veteran but because he’s a member of the community. Dahlberg suffers from ongoing medical problems and had two toes amputated. He was hospitalized late last week due to complications and there was a possibility his left leg would need to be amputated. Parish says fortunately, things are looking up since then and doctors were able to perform surgery and removed all of the infection. Parish says their office is currently exploring in-home care service for Dahlberg through the VA office in Ann Arbor but also organizing fundraisers. Parish says if anyone wants to send in words of encouragement, birthday cards or well wishes, he’d be more than happy to surprise Dahlberg with those too since he’ll be celebrating his 83rd birthday on Wednesday, July 16th. Those and donations can be dropped off directly or mailed to the Livingston County Department of Veterans Affairs office. Checks should be made payable to Ross Dahlberg and sent to 2300 E. Grand River Suite 109, Howell, MI 48843. A link to the online donation site set up for the cause is also posted below. Photo courtesy of Fox 2 Detroit. (JM)