When Shelbyville veteran Amanda Hounshell and her family lost everything in a house fire in February, she had no idea how the community would rally around her. Community members started multiple gofundme fundraisers, which have since raised more than $10,000.

“We thank the community for their support,” she said. “It’s been a huge help.” Another Shelbyville veteran took it a step further.

Judy King saw the news of the house fire on social media and began using her connections at the state legislature and the governor’s office to see what more they could do for Hounshell and her family. Hounshell is an Army combat veteran, and her family has had someone serving active duty every decade since the 1920s.

King connected with Charlie Hiltunen from the governor’s office, who connected her with former Second Lady Karen Pence and her nonprofit, the Hummingbird Charitable Foundation. The foundation held its inaugural lunch Thursday at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis, where it honored three veterans organizations.

“When planning this lunch I made a call to my friend Charlie Hiltunen, who suggested we connect with his friend, General Leroy Sisco,” Pence said during the lunch. “General Sisco is a very distinguished military leader who dedicated 42 years of service to the United States Military. His service extended beyond military service to business and philanthropy, notably, the Military Warriors Support Foundation, which has provided homes, vehicles, and scholarships, to wounded veterans. Through initiatives focused on home and vehicle ownership, outdoor recreation, life skills, and financial education, the Foundation empowers veterans to achieve long-term stability and success.”

She invited Gen. Sisco to the stage to announce the next home they would gift to a veteran – to Hounshell. Hounshell buried her face in her hands as the rest of her family joined her on stage.

“She didn’t have any idea this was going to happen,” Sisco said.

It almost wasn’t a surprise though, King said.

To get her to the lunch, King came up with the idea of telling Hounshell they need to go to the state VSO in Indianapolis to check on her benefits, then go to lunch. Everything was a go, but then Hounshell told King she was nervous.

“Everything was great until last night,” King said with a smile. “Amanda texted me, ‘Judy, I’m really nervous about tomorrow.’ I was like, ‘Do what?’ She was like, ‘I’m really nervous and I need my husband to come.’ I was thinking, ‘Oh no.’ I said, ‘Amanda, honey, it’s just a girl’s day. I just want to go check on your benefits.’ ‘Well, I’ve been really nervous since the fire, especially because I was stationed where we had all the mortars all the time coming in.’ I said, ‘I remember, you’ll be okay.’ Then she called me.”

So King had to reveal the secret to Hounshell’s husband for a little help convincing Hounshell to go.

“I said, ‘Is your husband available,’ and she goes, ‘Sure,’” King said. “I said, ‘Hi, this is Judy King and I know we’ve never met yet sir, but I just need you to show no emotion. Amanda is so nervous about tomorrow’s lunch date with me. Your dad is going to pick you up, [your youngest son] is getting out of school at 11 a.m., and if you could be up here in Indianapolis, your family is going to receive a home tomorrow. Show no emotion please. Please contact your dad after this phone call.’ ‘Okay! Amanda, you need to ride with Judy tomorrow.’”

Hounshell knew something was up, but she didn’t want to speculate. Since the fire, the family has worked with King and InteCare Inc. for assistance for a new rental.

“I never expected it, really,” Hounshell said.

King and the Warriors Support Foundation are working with a realtor to find a home for the Hounshell family. Soon, they will be in their forever home, as Hounshell put it.

Hounshell will be among the more than 1,000 veterans that the Military Warriors Support Foundation has gifted a home.

“I retired as a three-star general and I was in 42 years,” Sisco said. “You always want to thank the heroes that work for you over the years. I was very familiar with financial organizations and how to do things, so I started giving homes away. We’re up to a little over 1,000 homes, about 300 automobiles, and we take about 200-300 on fishing or golfing trips every year.”

In addition to the homes, the foundation also provides an extensive financial education to veterans to keep them in their homes.

“We give them the keys to the home, they live in it, but we don’t deed them the home for three years, and the reason why we don’t is because we put them through an incredible financial education,” Sisco said. “When that three years is over, they have no debt and they have money in the bank and they have the keys to a home. I can’t believe we’ve given away over 1,000 homes.”

The Hummingbird Charitable Foundation’s luncheon also awarded three other veterans organization $32,000 each: Indy Honor Flight, INvet, and the Indy Warrior Partnership.