Home Depot, National Guard do some sprucing up to VFW

Apr 12, 2011, 9:49 AM PDT
By Glen Beeby
KPIC News

ROSEBURG, Ore. – The VFW post in Roseburg received a major gift thanks to the Home Depot and some local National Guard soldiers.

The post was chosen by 'Team Depot' to have a major renovation done on their property.

The fence which surrounds most of the parking lot was rotting, and eventually knocked over during last month's windstorm.

VFW members say they don't know what they would have done without the help. "It would have cost probably between $2,000 and $3,000, and we just didn't have that kind of money," said Post Chaplain Bill Johnson.

Home Depot supplied all of the materials and volunteers from the store, along with the National Guard, are installing it.

Local troops helped tear down the old fence last week.

Other local businesses are donating other materials to fix the parking lot as well.

http://www.kpic.com/news/local/119701294.html

Home Depot Workers Help Fix Up Taylor VFW Post

Thursday, 07 Apr 2011, 7:58 PM EDT
By RONNIE DAHL
WJBK | myFOXDetroit.com

TAYLOR, Mich. (WJBK) - A small army of volunteers came armed with paint brushes, rollers and a whole lot of heart to transform VFW Post 4422.

The aging building was in desperate need of an update, but funds were tight.

"We raise money to help those in need, but sometimes we forget to help ourselves. So, I figured it was time to help ourselves and ask for help," said VFW Commander Butch Ramik.

Home Depot came to the rescue. The home improvement store funded a $6,000 grant to pay for supplies.

"Doing a whole new drop ceiling, as well as painting the entire interior and … the vestibule," said Home Depot employee Tom Gibbons. "Pretty aggressive project for one day."

Labor came free of charge with the elbow grease donated by store employees.

"I'm working two jobs to make ends meet, so I don't really have anything extra to give monetarily wise, but I can give my time, and it makes me feel good," said Home Depot employee Brenda Allen.

"People are here … all the way from Bowling Green, Ohio to help out," said Home Depot manager Rodney Harris. "It's what Home Depot does."

"We call ourselves orange blooded."

"Goes to show you … the support that the American warrior gets. Even when times are hard … people are willing to step up to help the soldiers of this country," Ramik said.

Some local contractors also helped by donating time and supplies to this project. A big thanks goes out to Swanson Construction in Taylor, along with Reflections Building and AAA Quality Painting.

Once the inside has been completed, the plan is to start work on the outside of the building later this summer.

On March 3, Team Depot associates from ten Home Depot stores partnered with Rebuilding Together in Mesa, AZ to repair and rehab the exterior of Disabled American Veterans facility.  Volunteers worked to make the exterior of the facility functional, fun and friendly for the veterans by landscaping, building easily accessible pathways and a patio, and an outdoor game area.

On February 5, Team Depot associates partnered with On a Mission Inc. in Los Angeles, CA to renovate their new youth after-school center. Volunteers repaired and painted the interior, replaced out of date vanities and sinks, and installed new carpet throughout the center.

In December 2010, Team Depot associates partnered with Friends of Trees in Portland, OR to rake leaves for homebound seniors. Volunteers worked for hours cleaning yards and bagging leaves that were then donated to the City of Portland to use as compost.

In November 2010, more than 50 Home Depot associates joined Rebuilding Together Seattle to renovate the home of an 82-year-old veteran who served in the Marine Corps from 1946 through 1950. Associates made interior and exterior home repairs and landscaped his yard.

In May 2009, Team Depot associates partnered with LISC to build a large community garden in Detroit, MI in just one day. Volunteers cleared the vacant and overgrown lot, built the raised garden beds, and planted fruit, vegetables and flowers in the beds.  The garden is thriving and has demonstrated the power of homegrown fresh food to transform a community.

In December 2009, Team Depot Associates partnered with the United Way and Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America to build a wheelchair ramp for a paralyzed veteran. In just one day, volunteers built a large and sturdy wood ramp for the veteran who was coming home from his service and would not have been able to access his own home.