Home Depot Transforms Tampa, FL Home for Korean War Veteran
Local Store Volunteers to Partner with Volunteers of America of Florida as Part of Company’s Fifth Annual Celebration of Service Campaign to Help Veterans Nationwide
On Thursday, October 22 more than 20 area Home Depot associates partnered with Volunteers of America of Florida to transform the home of Army veteran Jerry Garcia. This local volunteer project is part of Home Depot’s fifth annual Celebration of Service campaign, a nationwide effort led by Team Depot, The Home Depot’s associate-led volunteer force, to help give back to veterans in need. Between now and Veterans Day, Team Depot volunteers will complete projects for veterans in every community The Home Depot serves.
Garcia served in the Korean War where he was a gunner, cannoneer and tank driver. He is now disabled and uses a walker and wheelchair which means he can’t access the second floor of his home. Because of his disability he is unable to complete work on his home which needs updates to make it accessible to him.
Volunteer projects throughout the day included:
- Remodeling the bathroom and installing grab bars
- Updating the utility room which had been inoperable
- Power washing the house exterior
- Updating the front porch so Garcia can sit outside
In addition to Team Depot’s efforts, The Home Depot Foundation also will donate up to $1 million to veteran causes for customers who share their support for veterans and volunteerism via social media throughout Celebration of Service. On Twitter and Instagram, people can join in by sharing a #ServiceSelfie. On Facebook, likes, comments and shares on Team Depot’s nonprofit spotlight posts each Monday will count towards the $1 million goal.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED:
Throughout the campaign Team Depot is inviting consumers to ‘celebrate service’ on social media. For each social media action The Home Depot Foundation will donate $1, up to $1 million, between September 10 and Veterans Day to organizations that help senior veterans and veterans with service-connected disabilities including: Gary Sinise Foundation, Housing Assistance Council, Jared Allen’s Homes for Wounded Warriors, Meals on Wheels America, Operation Finally Home, Operation Homefront, Purple Heart Homes, Semper Fi Fund and the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Here is how to participate:
On Twitter and Instagram
People can celebrate service by sharing a photo of giving back in their own communities or honoring a service member on Twitter and Instagram, and use the hashtag #ServiceSelfie. For each #ServiceSelfie shared during Celebration of Service, The Home Depot Foundation will donate $1 toward the $1 million goal.
On Facebook
The Team Depot Facebook page will highlight one of these partners each Monday during Celebration of Service. Likes, comments and shares of these spotlight posts will also equal $1 toward the $1 million goal.
To learn more about participation, please visit thd.co/selfie.
For more about Team Depot’s activities throughout Celebration of Service and #ServiceSelfie, please visit homedepot.com/teamdepot.
About Giving Back at The Home Depot
Since the first The Home Depot store opened in 1979, giving back has been a core value for the Company and a passion for its associates. Today, The Home Depot, in partnership with The Home Depot Foundation, focuses its philanthropic efforts on improving the homes and lives of U.S. military veterans and their families and aiding communities affected by natural disasters. Through Team Depot, the Company’s associate-led volunteer force, thousands of associates dedicate their time and talents to these efforts in the communities where they live and work.
Since 2011, The Home Depot Foundation has invested more than $105 million to provide safe housing to veterans, and along with the help of Team Depot volunteers, has transformed more than 22,000 homes for veterans.
About Volunteers of America of Florida
Volunteers of America of Florida is a 501c3 nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need live healthy, safe and productive lives. Since 1914, our ministry of service has supported and empowered Florida’s most vulnerable groups, including seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, homeless individuals and families, those recovering from addictions and many others. Volunteers of America of Florida is the largest transitional housing (Grant Per Diem) provider for Veterans in the state of Florida. Volunteers of America of Florida serves more than 5,500 people with special needs each year through 78 programs and services in 28 locations from Pensacola to Key West. Volunteers of America of Florida is a chartered affiliate of nationally recognized Volunteers of America, Inc. Learn more and follow us on Twitter @VOAFLA and like us on Facebook.