A Yorktown Heights nonprofit is being nationally recognized for helping homeless veterans.

My Brother Vinny is receiving a “Vetty” honor from the Academy of United States Veterans for aiding the veteran community.

The nonprofit’s founder Paula Miritello says she feels honored her organization was chosen.

"I feel very honored and blessed to have our work as a 100% volunteer organization recognized at this national level,” shared Miritello. “I feel like I'm on cloud 9 still.”

Since June 2013, the charity was started to honor Miritello's brother Vincent, who died from cerebral palsy in 2000. The organization is now credited with helping nearly 1,000 veterans in the Hudson Valley.

"...I was just doing charity work and I met a veteran at a charity event and it spiraled from there, where I was trying to honor Vinny and it led to this whole ... I feel like I was chosen for this," says Miritello.

She explained how the process works, saying in part, “Starting over from homelessness, they'll go into an empty apartment, they'll reach out, and they'll tell us they need furniture and housewares."

The organization was highlighted nationally, but it was also recognized locally by the Town of Yorktown for its contribution to the community.

"Born and bred Yorktown, her family still lives in Yorktown and we put our veterans first in Yorktown ... and this clearly reflects those values," says Town of Yorktown Supervisor Matt Slater.

She hopes the recognition will motivate others to support her cause. News 12 is told My Brother Vinny is already in the process of planning its 1,000th home renovation later this year.