Senior Bowl benefits "Homes For Our Troops"

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Homes For Our Troops is an organization that builds specially designed houses for wounded veterans. This year, the organization is setting up shop at the Senior Bowl Experience and Saturday's game.

Sgt Greg Edwards USMC , Cpl. Chris Montgomery USMC and Cpl. Jeffery Williams U.S. Army are planning on attending the events and each will have the opportunity to spend some time with the stars of Senior Bowl: the football players.

"You see them on TV, you don't think of them as someone you can mess around with but then you meet them, shake their hands, they're just like everybody else, just a lot bigger," said Montgomery.

Besides spending time with some of the best athletes in college football, these three men have something else in common. They're all injured war veterans.

Montgomery was on his third deployment in Afghanistan when he stepped on an IED.

"I'm a double amputee, and my left arm is severely injured as well, and a lot of people don't realize but houses aren't built and aren't made for guys in wheelchairs," said Montgomery.

Right now, Homes for our Troops is working on a wheelchair accessible home for Montgomery. To keep the project going, members of the P.L Wilson Detachment of the Marine Corps League will be collecting donations from the Senior Bowl Experience at the Convention Center and from fans attending the Senior Bowl game at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

The goal is collect $1 from everyone that attends the events.

"It brings awareness to people because back here, a lot of people don't see we are fighting a war and people are getting hurt and severely injured and it helps severely injured guys out a lot," Montgomery said.

The trim is laid down inside Montgomery’s new home, the house is painted and the lawn has been taken care of, but the flooring and cabinets still need to be installed.

While he is waiting for the final touches, he's going to enjoy some time watching football and hanging with players.

Cpl. Jeffery Williams is coming into Mobile Thursday night and will be on the field during half time at the Senior Bowl Saturday.