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Lowe's employees give their time, talents to numerous community projects
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Published: March 16, 2009
Storage shelves for the soup kitchen, a new bathroom for a house full of children and a push to finish one of the residential homes at Barium Springs Home for Children were on area organizations' wish lists but money and time were a bit of an issue.
During the past month, Employees from the Lowe's Co. corporate offices rolled up their sleeves, and gave a few Saturdays and put these projects on the fast track.
About 15 groups of Lowe's corporate employees in Wilkesboro and Mooresville have planned and executed Heroes projects in both areas. Area organizations said they couldn't have done it without them — or, at least, not as quickly.
Since the late 1990s, Lowe's Home Improvement Centers have taken on local community projects through the annual Lowe's Heroes program, but this is the first time the corporate offices had an organized effort.
Volunteers working at the eight projects in Iredell County said community service is deeply embedded into the Lowe's culture.
"In general, Lowe's relies so much on the community," said Mark Shaw, co-captain of the Barium Springs project to beautify the campus and paint the King Residential House. "It's important to give back."
Considering the economic trials right now, the community organizations and those who rely on them all seemed grateful for the extra help.
"It's been one of the more memorable events in my history here," said Children's Homes of Iredell County Executive Director Brenda Speece. "People who don't have to do the things that they are doing are working to make a better life for someone else."
Each of the volunteer groups was given a $3,000 Lowe's gift card and had to find a project that could be catergorized as safe and affordable housing, public education, safety or community improvement.
One group helped set up bus stop shelters in the Mooresville Graded and Iredell-School Districts.
Another helped renovate the computer and youth rooms at the Winnie Hooper Center in Mooresville.
Another group of volunteers worked at Mooresville' Soup Kitchen, installing shelves for storage, a recycling bin to collect used cans and new flooring.
"This was truly a blessing for us," said Jody Schwandt, the nonprofit's executive director. "The timing couldn't be better. People are conscious of what others need, more so now than when things were going well."
The Lowe's Heroes project at N.B. Mills Elementary School will change how the students play outside.
The weather has always influenced children's playtime in some way. The new playground is in an open field without any trees, and the children only got to play with the NEOS electronic play systems a few times because of the mud.
When Exceptional Children teacher Susan Williams' husband, Walt, mentioned that Lowe's corporate was selecting Heroes projects, she decided to apply.
The group built benches and picnic tables, planted shade trees and made the Neos system more accessible by installing a path and mulching the surrounding area.
The volunteers said the projects were rewarding.
"We've gotten so much more out of this than the school has gotten," said project co-captain Randi Williams.
Brianna Smith, who works as a senior accountant for Lowe's, said she was really excited about the project and helping the school out.
"It's what we do," said Tom Nimblett, co-captain of the project. "It was an obvious choice. This is an area that not only is the school going to enjoy, but the community as well."
In some cases, the Lowe's Heroes stepped forward and helped move projects along.
The Children's Homes of Iredell County had wanted to renovate the Doyle Home in Statesville for years.
The group of volunteers from Lowe's transformed the house during the last month by installing a new bathroom, putting in a closet and remodeling the kitchen.
They also let the residents pick out bed linens and the paint colors for their rooms.
The work would have cost Children's Homes around $20,000 to $30,000 to complete, and the organization simply did not have that kind of money budgeted, Speece said.
Speece said the project meant a lot to her because it created a better living environment for the children, who are in the custody of the Iredell County Department of Social Services.
"There is no job too big that can't be done. We have been so blessed with so many people who have cared," she said.
A group of 15 children were selected to help paint the murals at the Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont's new building on Cochran Street.
The children enjoyed talking to the Lowe's volunteers as they slowly became covered in the paint being used to illustrate different activities, such as drama, dance, physical fitness and art.
The murals feature quotes from famous Boys & Girls Club Alumni such as Denzel Washington and Michael Jordan.
Jayda Zsarmani said she loves to dance and really liked the mural in the dance room.
Crystal Pratt, the club's chief professional officer, said it was important to get the children involved with the project, and hopefully the Lowe's volunteers will come back for other programs in the future.
Barium Springs Event Manager Tamara Johnson said having the volunteers come in sped up the work the organization was trying to do on the King Residential Home.
"This process would have been weeks away," she said. "This is far and away the most organized group of people. They are a joy to work with."
Most of the groups are still putting the finishing touches on their projects, which have to be completed by March 31.
After the projects are completed, the Greater Lake Norman and Wilkesboro Hometown Committees will judge the projects and pick a winner from the Greater Lake Norman area and one for the Wilkesboro area.
Each winning team will receive $5,000 to give to the charity of their choice.
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