Grunt Style - Operation Community: April

“Creating exquisite, one-of-a-kind pieces from wood in his early childhood led veteran Kurt B. to open his own craftsmen woodworking company,

Ballash Woodworks (https://www.ballashwoodworks.com), once his time in the service came to an end. After the business was flourishing, Kurt began the development of Artisans Outreach, a program for veterans.

Everything was looking up, but right before the program took flight his wife, Jamie, died suddenly of a heart attack. This tragic turn of events coincided with the start of the initial COVID-19 shutdown and took a massive toll on Kurt. His guiding light was gone. While many veterans sadly succumb to the demons they face,

Kurt used his grief as the driving force behind his and Jamie’s vision. As a result, Artisans Outreach successfully launched in honor of Jamie and currently partners with other veteran organizations.

Through Artisans Outreach, active duty soldiers, veterans, their family members, and caregivers are given the opportunity to acquire artisan skills and bring their own unique creations to life through woodworking.

What started as a shadow in his grandfather’s footsteps has now turned into an opportunity to encourage the same therapeutic effect Kurt experiences through his craft in veterans across the country.”

To read the entire article visit: https://www.gruntstyle.com/pages/operation-community-april

Credit for photos and article excerpt: Grunt Style