GRAND HAVEN, Mich. — One Grand Haven veteran is getting national recognition for continuing to serve our country beyond his duties with the military.
His name is Dylan Nuttle, and he told 13 ON YOUR SIDE, “There’s no limit to who you can help and how you can help. You just have to find a way to help and to me that was the Marine Corps and serving.”
Enlisting as soon as he could at age 17, Nuttle said he’s always wanted to serve.
“I have a bunch of family that served in the military. That just stuck with me growing up, at a young age. Just to serve something bigger than myself,” he said.
He served in a range of roles from aircraft rescue and firefighting to marine security guard duty, and then spent four years overseas. He retired after eight years.
Nuttle said, “Right after I went into carpentry school, which has led me into this next chapter of serving and helping in a different way.”
That’s when he was introduced to the nonprofit world and realized his need to serve could continue. He started the nonprofit The Forgotten Stewardship.
He explained, “Our mission is to establish neighbors helping neighbors by empowering and equipping local stewards with the tools and training necessary to change one community at a time.”
The organization targets people rural communities who may need an extra hand.
“One of the biggest things is home repairs. Once they start going downhill, it’s expedited every year on top of that. It compounds,” said Nuttle.
He’s earned national recognition from the VFW Still Serving movement for connecting those who need help with those who can do the work.
Nuttle said, “To those people who desire to make things better, to help everybody. No matter what the circumstance, people need help.”
You can request help, or sign up to become a steward and help with repairs, on The Forgotten Stewardship website.