From food to moving boxes, Lowe’s associates are helping each other and their communities
People around the United States are adjusting to their new normal due to COVID-19: working from home indefinitely, homeschooling their children and shopping only for essentials.
Lowe’s and its associates are committed to serving customers and communities with essential products and services during this challenging time. This collection of stories illustrates a few of the ways local stores and their teams have found meaningful ways to help others. New stories are continually being added:
MONDAY – APRIL 27, 2020
Angels Wear Gowns
Early in April, Robyn Staebler and her husband were sewing masks to donate locally in southeast Michigan when they noticed what felt like a big gap.
“We didn’t see anybody filling the need of gowns,” Staebler said.
So “Angels Wear Gowns” was formed. It’s a network of volunteers who have organized to make hospital approved isolation gowns for frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Volunteers collect the materials and cut the plastic to make the gowns.
Simply put, their mission is to protect those protecting us. And they needed some help.
That’s where Lowe’s came in.
The Staeblers “had heard that Michigan’s healthcare workers were short on PPE, particularly gowns,” said Nate Roberts, Lowe’s store manager in Ann Arbor. “They made templates to show how [the gowns] could be made from 4-mil plastic, and they initially asked if they could have four or five boxes to get it started and see if it worked out. But our store has donated 60 boxes along with duct tape.”
More stores in Michigan wanted to contribute, and to date about 30 locations have pitched in.
“An absolute godsend to our mission,” Robyn Staebler said. “Lowe’s bent over backwards. There was no hesitation. They gave us rolls of plastic and the heavy-duty duct tape we needed. They wanted to do anything they could to help us.”
Over 8,000 gowns have been made by over 200 volunteers, and 60-plus facilities have been on the receiving end. That includes hospitals, nursing homes, police stations, fire departments and homeless shelters.
“It’s been a blessing, to see so many people come together,” Roberts said.
Plexiglass Donation to Hospital in Need
Leah Boulton works in the emergency department of Beaumont Hospital in Farmington Hills, Michigan. She went into her local Lowe’s in nearby Ypsilanti in dire need of materials to make intubation boxes to help treat patients with coronavirus.
The store manager, Holly Cooper, and an assistant store manager, Matt Pearson, took action immediately. They tracked down enough plexiglass to support four intubation boxes and donated silicone caulking as well.
Boulton was moved to tears in the store.
“I can’t imagine everything they’re going through in the hospitals,” Cooper said. “It felt really good to know we were making a difference.”
WEDNESDAY – APRIL 22, 2020
Lowe’s Helps Build Isolation Pods for EMS
Emergency medical workers in Haywood County, North Carolina, knew they needed a safer way to transport patients who might be COVID-19 positive.
They went to Lowe’s with a concept in mind and left the store with a solution.
“Haywood County EMS came into the store and they had an idea to build enclosures for the rescue squads,” said Sam Kilby, Waynesville store manager. “Boyce (McDougald), one of my assistant store managers, walked up to them and asked if he could be of help.”
“They explained what they were trying to build, and he said, ‘Let us donate all of the parts for you so you can get it done.’ We donated all the materials and Boyce helped them put it all together inside the store here.”
The enclosures are made of heavy-duty plastic and PVC piping. Eight isolation pods have been made for use in ambulances so far. And the functional design is being replicated to help other nearby communities.
“This actually got shared across a couple counties,” Kilby said.
TLC in OKC
Lowe’s associates recently received a special payment to recognize their tireless efforts to serve customers and communities. Project Specialist Chris Stotts decided to use his bonus to help any member of his Lowe’s family who experienced unplanned expenses and hardship during this time.
The Oklahoma City associate used the extra money to purchase groceries for more than 100 of his fellow employees.
“They were just shocked, wanting to know why I did it,” Stotts said. “I knew there were quite a few people suffering, but the people that you never would have thought were facing challenges were the hardest ones hit.”
“It was just eye-opening. I can’t tell you how many people were so grateful.”
THURSDAY – APRIL 16, 2020
Assisting Albany’s Food Distribution
To help those in COVID-19 quarantine, Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy partnered with the regional food bank and the New York National Guard to form an emergency food distribution program.
The United Way provided support for the initiative and Lowe’s was eager to do the same.
“We have a partnership with United Way and their CEO Peter Gannon reached out to me and … asked what we might be able to do,” said Albany Store Manager Thomas Boolukos.
Ultimately, Lowe’s donated 2,800 boxes to help deliver food to people who can’t go out and get it themselves.
“[Those boxes] are critical to ensuring those who are placed under mandatory quarantine have the food they need,” McCoy said.
To date, nearly 2,000 boxes of food have been delivered to Albany residents.
“They were absolutely thrilled,” Boolukos said. “We were able to supply more than enough boxes. It’s been working out great. I just let them know we’re here to further assist them with whatever their needs are.”
WEDNESDAY – APRIL 15, 2020
‘Just trying to do our part’
The University of Vermont Medical Center is working diligently to prepare for a potential surge in COVID-19 cases by converting the school’s athletic facility – Patrick Gymnasium – into a 50-bed overflow unit to care for patients if the hospital runs out of room.
The Lowe’s store in Burlington, Vermont, answered the call to assist with the project.
“They reached out to us wondering what we could do to help them. We donated a bunch of supplies like gloves, sanitizer and masks,” Store Manager Robert Fournier said. “They asked about refrigerators and our team turned around the next day and brought them seven fridges to help store a lot of the medical supplies.”
Lowe’s also worked with UVM to quickly supply the healthcare professionals with a storage shed that can be used as a testing facility.
“We’re trying to respond as quickly as possible to everything they’re doing because they are doing so much for the community,” Fournier said. “We’re just trying to do our part.”
Sewing Some Good
When Store Manager Brandon Harris of the Lowe’s of Federal Way, Washington, spotted a member of South King Fire and Rescue talking to his office manager, he hurried over to make sure there wasn’t any danger in the store.
But the local firefighter wasn’t there responding to a call. He was looking for help – in the form of personal protective equipment (PPE). He was looking for Tyvek house wrap material as a potential substitute to make more protective gowns – something he planned to sew together for the department.
“They [had enough] masks and gloves, but the one thing they were running out of were gowns that protect their bodies from fluids and other things,” Harris said. “He wanted to know if we could get in touch with the merchant to get the specs on our Lowe’s house wrap, and see if they could deem it worthy to be PPE.”
After determining the house wrap would work for the department’s needs, Harris and his store donated all seven rolls of house wrap from his store and partnered with another area store to donate eight more rolls – in total, enough for the department to sew 500 protective gowns. After sharing the creative success with neighboring stations, fire departments across the country and even in Canada began reaching out for the template to make these gowns out of Lowe’s house wrap.
“It kind of blew up to be a much bigger thing than we thought it was going to be,” Harris said. “It was an epiphany for me. It made me realize how small of a gesture can help hundreds and hundreds.”
MONDAY – APRIL 13, 2020
‘All on the same team’
When Auburn University at Montgomery welcomed healthcare workers to live in their residence halls while they battle COVID-19, Lowe’s stepped in to provide more than $3,000 worth of items to enhance the temporary homes for those brave heroes on the front lines.
“We’re all on the same team, and we’re all in the same battle,” Prattville Lowe’s Store Manager Craig Hill said during a press conference on UAM’s campus. “The only way we win this battle against COVID-19 is together.”
This housing solution offers peace of mind for medical professionals concerned about spreading germs to family members.
With Lowe’s contribution, the residence halls are now equipped with microwaves, lamps, pillows and additional décor to help make the space feel as homey and comfortable as possible. The Lowe’s team helped assemble buckets with flowers and baskets filled with items like candles, snacks and Febreze, and Lowe’s associates delivered all donations to the dorm rooms.
“We can only imagine how hard it is for these nurses to be away from their families right now,” Hill said. “We wanted to do something to show our appreciation.”
Creating IV Poles for A Hospital In Need
As the COVID-19 pandemic began impacting healthcare providers nationwide, the team at Lowe’s of Stillwater, Oklahoma, immediately jumped in, too. Store Manager Niki Matthews and Installed Sales Manager Missy Danker reached out to first responders in the area to gauge the needs of the community. They quickly learned Stillwater Medical Hospital would have a shortage of IV poles, and the store associates went to work manufacturing their own poles with items the store had on hand.
Russell Dyson, electrical pro at the Stillwater Lowe’s, led the group’s efforts in production. Using a trashcan base, electrical conduit, rollers and some chain link fencing, Dyson was able to fabricate and weld together an effective design on his own time.
“We’re blessed to be working for a company that’s putting this much effort into keeping us employed,” Dyson said. “I just wanted to do my part.”
Matthews and Danker completed the final assembly of poles at the loading dock of the hospital.
“It’s very humbling to know that you can make such an impact,” Danker said.
FRIDAY – APRIL 10, 2020
Arizona Teams Build Critical PPE For Mayo Clinic
When personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies run low, medical care workers must scramble to protect themselves on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, doctors and staff found themselves without necessary protective face shields. A manufacturer of the shields posted a YouTube video showing medical care workers how they could make their own – but the Mayo Clinic didn’t have the supplies to make the 1,000 shields they needed.
That’s when one doctor reached out to Store Manager Jeff Jacoboski from the Lowe’s of Ocotillo, Arizona. He asked Jacoboski to watch the video and see if his store had the right products to make the face shields. Jacobski realized the stores sold most of what was needed for the process, and he was able to source the rest from a local office supply store.
After some trial and error, Jacoboski and a doctor from the clinic built a prototype that was cleared by the clinic’s disease control center. Right away, Jacoboski went to work with his sister stores across Phoenix to gather the rest of the product needed to make all 1,000 shields.
“They were just floored when I wouldn’t let them pay for anything,” Jacoboski said. “When they reached out to us with a need, we were all in from the word ‘go’. Especially when we found out they weren’t able to get them anywhere else.”
The clinic was so thrilled with the protective face shields they were able to make, they’ve decided to share their list of materials and the process with other hospitals and clinics across the country.
Lowe’s Kickstarts Easter Bucket Brigade In Pittsburgh
Ken Haines is a Lowe’s district manager in Pittsburgh. He’s also an executive board member for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania, and that connection led to a terrific community outreach project to help low-income families.
“The executive office of the Boys and Girls Clubs called me. They have almost 1,000 families that they support and a lot of them are in impoverished communities,” Haines explained. “Their concern was for those families who didn’t have the resources to get disinfectant products. They asked if there was any way we could help.”
Haines thought it over and came up with a plan. “I called my store managers and said, ‘We can make an impact here.’”
Everyone was on board and the stores filled 700 Lowe’s buckets with things like gloves, spray cleaner and paper towels. Then Haines rounded up donations from other companies in the area.
“It was like a wildfire,” Haines said. “Businesses in Pittsburgh found out what we were doing and jumped on the bandwagon. I have goosebumps now just talking about it. It was phenomenal.”
Local distilleries offered to provide hand sanitizer. And Sarris Candies added a sweet touch with Easter Sunday fast approaching.
“Sarris Candies, which is a huge locally owned chocolate factory, decided to donate peanut butter-chocolate Easter eggs for every bucket we fill,” Haines said.
The Boys and Girls Club has begun delivering the buckets to families, and Haines provided a member of their staff with an Easter bunny outfit to make the donation a little more special.
“I have an Easter bunny outfit that our stores use on Easter, but we’ll be closed this year. He wore the outfit so he could really bring a smile to the families as he made the deliveries. On each bucket is a special message that was written to them,” Haines said.
“I’m just really proud of our Lowe’s family.”
Clinton, Utah Team
Just north of Salt Lake City, Utah, the Lowe’s of Clinton heard that the Clinton City Police Department officers were having to bag their uniforms and take them home to wash them as a COVID-19 precaution.
Although his store was out of masks and other protective supplies, Store Manager John Silvester knew there was still a way for his team to help these first responders.
“They’re out there dealing with this, I can’t imagine what they face all day long,” Silvester said. “And then to have to take their clothes and have their families worry about it. I couldn’t tolerate that.”
Two days later, the store delivered a brand-new washer and dryer set to the police department.
“We appreciate the sacrifice and risk they take every day for us and this is the least we could do for them,” Silvester said.
THURSDAY – APRIL 9, 2020
Care Packages For The Elderly
In Pico Rivera, California, Store Manager Jose Rodriguez and his team wanted to help the elderly in their community who were in need. They put together 25 care packages consisting of water, toilet paper and disinfectant wipes and delivered them to their front doors.
“We have a lot of elderly in our city and wanted to help,” said Rodriguez.” Associates who delivered the product, it moved them when they dropped off the care packages and could see how grateful they were.”
A Handwritten, Heartfelt Thank You
Like countless Lowe’s stores across the country, the crew in Torrington, Connecticut, recently donated much-needed supplies to their local hospital.
But James Thibault, department supervisor of plumbing and electrical, took the gratitude a step further. Thibault, whose wife works in the healthcare industry, decided to write a personal letter to accompany the donation. Other associates signed it and expressed their thanks.
Below are the words Thibault wrote:
“In times like these it’s the faces behind the mask that respond to the fight.
These heroes comfort, they cure, they promise it will be alright.
It’s that face behind the mask, the one that you never see that is always there in the face of adversity.
Putting others first it’s easy to see they were sent by God to care for all these strangers, you see.
So give thanks to these brave souls who continue to fight for the sick and the healthy, the young and the old.
For it’s the heart behind the mask that keeps us safe, when the story be told.
Dedicated to all of you who wear the mask that covers your heart!!
You are never forgotten.”
WEDNESDAY – APRIL 8, 2020
Request From EMS Leads to Lowe’s Team Innovation
Ken Romanowsky, assistant store manager at Lowe’s of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania, was called to the service desk to meet with a customer who had a special request.
Tony Tucci introduced himself as the Chief of the West Reading Ambulance Association and shared a request for spray to disinfect ambulances and fire trucks after transporting suspected COVID-19 patients. Lowe’s fulfilled that request and Tucci later returned to the store with something else in mind.
He showed Romanowsky a drawing of a protective face shield that the station was hoping to build for emergency personnel.
“When I saw the picture of the device,” Romanowsky recalled, “I knew right away that it was something we could do.”
Store Manager Bo McClain said, “I told Ken to go ahead with whatever he needs.”
Romanowsky enlisted the help of plumbing sales specialist Barry Kline, who cut the necessary PVC pipe. Romanowsky then assembled 30 units for pick up the next day. The design can fit EMS stretchers and be disassembled easily for transport.
“I used to be an EMT 15 years ago,” said McClain, the store manager. “I was just like, ‘Guys, this is awesome.’ Times like this, it’s always great to have those feel-good stories in the community.”
From Texas, With Love
When supplies began to run low at both Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey, and St. Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, hospital staff reached out to their local Lowe’s looking to purchase 1,000 poncho suits. The store quickly rallied a team of associates from across store operations, supply chain and transportation to find what was needed.
A Regional Distribution Center (RDC) in Mount Vernon, Texas, answered the call. With enough product on hand to fulfill the request, the RDC team organized the shipment, loaded it on a truck and sent the emergency supplies up north to the hospitals in need.
“We just wanted to make sure we got it out of the warehouse as quickly as we could,” said Robbie Tigert, RDC assistant planning manager. “This is just what we do. We serve the stores and they get it to the customer, the people in need.”
MONDAY – APRIL 6, 2020
Simple Idea Helps Protect Beyond The Store
Nick Bryant, store manager at the Lowe’s of Stuart, Florida, was overseeing the installation of protective Plexiglass shields in the store as part of Lowe’s response to COVID-19. Two representatives from Martin County School District noticed the project and immediately envisioned even more possibilities.
“They were like, ‘Wow, what a great idea,’” Bryant said. In fact, school psychologists and therapists would benefit from shields like that to allow for more protected interactions with students. So, the Lowe’s team got to work, donating their time and materials to create a tabletop version for the school.
“We offered to put something together for the kids,” Bryant said. “They couldn’t believe it. They said that simple barrier would make such a big impact for the school. We didn’t think too much about it. We had extra Plexiglass and were happy to do it.”
Bryant said the team shared a chuckle after building the protective shields. “They said they wanted to hug us but obviously decided not to given the current situation.”
Lowe’s Helps New Orleans First Responders
COVID-19 has been particularly devastating in the city of New Orleans, and Lowe’s didn’t hesitate to lend a helping hand in a time of great need.
Several truckloads of supplies – which include masks, gloves, bottled water, paper products, household cleaners and buckets – were donated to the city this past week. According to Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who tweeted her thanks to Lowe’s, the supplies will be distributed to first responders, healthcare workers and area non-profits.
“Getting these supplies is very difficult,” said Collin Arnold, New Orleans director of homeland security. “We were contacted by Lowe’s and they expressed a sincere interest in making a large donation to the city of New Orleans for our first responders and frontline employees. Lowe’s has just stepped up. It’s an amazing offer.”
Lowe’s District Manager Emanuel Fitch told New Orleans media he and his colleagues were just happy to do their part.
“It’s all about the communities that we serve,” Fitch said. “When we had this opportunity, we jumped at it. We chose to put humanity over sales. Again, just happy to be a part of something that’s much bigger than us and helping keep the community as safe as possible.”
FRIDAY – APRIL 3, 2020
Supporting Tennessee Healthcare Workers
With Lowe’s help, inmates in Tennessee are helping in the fight against COVID-19. Lowe’s donated Tyvek material to the Tennessee Department of Correction to be used at two prisons to manufacture personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers across the state. The project has been underway since March 27 and reportedly more than 2,000 masks and 800 gowns have been produced.
“The way I see it, I am helping to save a lot of lives,” one inmate told WTVC in Chattanooga. “I see what’s happening out there and how serious this pandemic is and felt helpless, a lot of us did. Those are our communities too, and we wanted to do something to help. I’m proud to be a part of this project.”
Stitching Together
Trina Perreault works as a respiratory therapist in Massachusetts and recognized the need for additional personal protective equipment (PPE) in the area. “I started making masks on my own and posted them on my Facebook page,” Perreault said. That sparked conversations back and forth among her peers in the healthcare industry.
As a result, a Facebook group spanning the Commonwealth unites volunteers to create homemade masks for healthcare workers and other people in the community who are in need. The key protective component in these masks is air filters, which Perreault and others are repurposing to fit inside their hand-stitched masks.
Perreault reached out to Josh Perez and Mike Maye, Lowe’s store managers in Ware and Springfield, Massachusetts, who immediately donated air filter supplies to support the sewing efforts.
To date, 240 volunteers have stitched together 10,000 masks in the last week and a half.
Brightening Their Day
For Rhonda Estes, an operations manager at Lowe’s in Louisville, Kentucky, an emotional conversation with a coworker sparked an idea. Chuck Maltezakis, the most tenured delivery driver on staff, was expressing concern about his mother, who is quarantined at a nursing home in New York.
“Nobody can go visit her,” Estes explained, “so Chuck was pretty shaken up about it. I was almost in tears hearing him talk about it. It just touches you, you know?”
Estes suggested they donate some flowerpots to the local nursing home just down the road. It was a way to help lift a colleague’s spirits while also making a heartfelt impact in the community.
A group of associates quickly took it upon themselves to make the pots. Estes and Maltezakis then delivered them to an outdoor patio area at the nursing home for the residents and staff members to enjoy.
“A lot of times people forget about those people in the nursing homes, you know?” Estes said. “It gave Chuck a good feeling. On the way back, he let me know how much he appreciated it. He said, ‘You don’t know how much that means to them.’”
“They were super excited and just so thankful,” Store Manager James Merkle said after speaking with the nursing home director. “It brightened their day up, and that’s why we did it.”
WEDNESDAY – APRIL 1, 2020
Keeping People Safe
As part of Lowe’s ongoing effort to keep associates and customers safe, plexiglass shields are being installed at cash registers and desks. One customer noticed the shields and began working with Store Manager Tom Smith at the Lowe’s in Helena, Montana to find the materials to build similar plexiglass shields.
Smith learned this customer worked for the Montana Department of Justice and was tasked with installing shields at the 51 DMV offices across the state. Smith is now working in his store and with five other store managers across the state to get the supplies and have them ready for pick up.
As he was thinking of protecting his own associates and customers as well as those serving at the DMV offices, Smith decided to help others in retail serving on the frontlines. He gathered supplies, then visited three local pharmacies where he installed plexiglass shields at each pharmacy desk to protect the very workers who are helping people in need every day.
“My heart went out to these patients on medications,” Smith said. “And I wanted to help keep pharmacy employees safe as they are retail heroes right now, just like my own Lowe’s associates!”
Learning To Adapt
A nurse came into the Lowe’s of Ft. Myers looking for N95 masks only to learn that the store had already donated its supply to local health care providers. But Store Manager Kaci Allen wasn’t about to let the nurse walk away empty-handed. She mentioned a video demonstrating how people were creating masks by using Shop-Vac air filters.
“We gave her the filters and told her to try it, let us know if it works out and we’ll help you make some more,” Allen said.
The next day, the nurse returned for more filters because she had figured out a way to assemble a cover to protect the one mask each health care provider receives daily.
“She came over and sat with about six or seven of my associates and myself and we just did an assembly line,” Allen said. “We were able to make almost 300 masks [covers] to help bring this amazing lady and her peers a little peace of mind and – more than anything – some hope and laughter,” Allen added. “She was so grateful for what we were doing, she probably thanked us a million times… but I really felt like we should be thanking her.”
Allen said the associates in her store were grateful for the opportunity to help their community. “I think it means a lot to the associates to be put in a situation where they feel like they’re doing more.”
Providing Critical Laundry Needs
The Lowe’s of Greenland, New Hampshire learned of a recurring problem for their local fire and police departments. As first responders help the community battle the COVID-19 crisis, they are then faced with needing to cleanse and sanitize the clothing they were wearing while interacting with confirmed or presumptive cases of the virus. “We have been coming back to the station, changing into our backup gear and putting the clothing in a plastic bag,” Capt. Paul Hanley told SeacoastOnline.com “We take them home to wash and that is just not the best solution.”
Within a day of hearing how their local heroes needed help, the Lowe’s team donated washers and dryers, helping police and fire keep possibly contaminated clothing at work, which means even less risk of contaminating their loved ones at home. “What they did is really touching,” Greenland Police Chief Tara Laurent said. “They even delivered the hoses, extra cleaners, all we needed to get going.”
MONDAY – MARCH 30, 2020
Helping First Responders Build What They Need
When the fire department in DeFuniak Springs, Florida shared their plans to build a decontamination area, Lowe’s leapt at the chance to help them execute it. The store donated supplies and materials needed to construct a proper facility. “We didn’t have the money in the City’s budget to purchase these supplies,” says Lt. Jerry Hall of the DeFuniak Springs Fire Department, “since we had no way of knowing about the COVID-19 outbreak back when the City’s budget was formulated last year. We are deeply grateful for Lowe’s answering our call for assistance.”
Supporting Partnerships With Police Departments
Tempe, Arizona Police Commander Kim Hale reached out to Lowe’s Store Manager Jerry Gillin. Commander Hale and his department needed cleaning supplies such as bleach to clean their squad cars, motorcycles and office areas. Gillin and his team have worked with the Tempe Police Department over the years and have what Gillin says is a great relationship. “So when they asked, we were more than happy to help out,” he shared.
The Tempe Lowe’s team immediately assembled a pallet of bleach and prepared it for an average, everyday pick up.
“Then they surprised us by rolling in on their motorcycles and lining them up across the front of the store,” Gillin said. “ It was an awesome sight.”
Gillin says they’ll continue to support the Tempe Police and are already planning to deliver cleaning wipes as soon as more are delivered.
THURSDAY – MARCH 26, 2020
Shielding Against COVID-19
Like many medical facilities right now, the University of Washington Valley Medical Center found itself running low on essential supplies like masks and other protective equipment. One doctor visited the Lowe’s of Renton, Washington looking for supplies they could use. Store Manager Jeff Blair heard the request, offered supplies, and also pledged to help build the protective plexiglass shields the hospital so desperately needed. Blair reached out to fellow Store Manager, TJ Layne at the Lowe’s of Issaquah, and together their teams helped design, build and deliver the shields to the hospital that day.
“It’s not every day that you are tasked with a project that can be so beneficial to so many people on the front lines fighting this,” Layne said. “And then to hear the absolute excitement from Dr. Bernard when I presented the box to her was a little overwhelming and surreal.”
Blair and his team also donated gloves and other protective equipment the following day.
“The doctors and nurses were so appreciative and emotional for all the help they were receiving,” Blair described. “It felt amazing for my team and myself to make such an impact for them and the community.”
Helping Healthcare Workers From Head To Toe
The Kaweah Delta Healthcare District had resorted to reusing their old N95 masks because of regional shortages when Store Manager Tony Ferreira in Visalia, California learned of the need. Following a directive from Lowe’s leadership, Ferreira was thrilled to be able to take their stock of masks and help the facility and healthcare workers.
“They don’t have the supplies and there is a dire need,” Ferreira said. “Any masks that come in are pulled aside and donated directly to the hospital.”
Knowing that hospital employees had other disinfecting needs, the store also donated Clorox cleaning spray so they could not only clean surfaces at the facility but also spray down their shoes at the end of every shift.
TUESDAY – MARCH 24, 2020
Love From The Palmetto State
Assistant Store Managers at the Lowe’s of Bluffton, South Carolina reached out to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and asked what essential supplies they needed. The response: Lysol wipes to clean the back of their patrol cars. Store Manager Stephanie Lemmon quickly went to action.
“We donated eight gallons of disinfectant and about eight boxes of the towels that they could use, and spray bottles,” Lemmon said.
The Bluffton Lowe’s also provided lunch to the ER staff at Hilton Head hospital and donated about 60 pairs of safety glasses from their shelves to the hospital staff.
“The nurses and doctors were just thrilled,” Lemmon added. “They loved the lunch, but they were super thrilled about the PPE (Personal protective equipment).”
Supporting Our First Responders
While conducting a security check at the Lowe’s in Vallejo, California this week, Officers Acaffle and Luengas (pictured) met associates at Store 1871. The officers said they were in dire need of these supplies, and the Lowe’s associates donated several containers of Clorox and Lysol wipes. The department said they will use the donations to sanitize patrol cars and various equipment they use every day.
MONDAY – MARCH 23, 2020
Essential Supplies For First Responders
Knowing first responders everywhere were experiencing shortages of essential supplies, Lowe’s district manager Ed Burris partnered with Asset Protection Manager Brad Wassing (pictured) to reach out to California police departments to see how they could help.
They then partnered with Store Manager Brian Bernard and Assistant Store Manager Vivian Vervantes at the Lowe’s of Clovis to coordinate a donation of essential products to the Clovis Police Department. Cpl. Shurtliff (pictured) of the Clovis Police Department came to the store to accept the much-needed supplies. The store has a history of supporting the Clovis PD, and associates were thrilled to be able to help.
After running out of masks to help protect their staff, the Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska reached out to Lowe’s District Manager Don Mallard for help. Mallard knew a store in his district, Lowe’s of Central Omaha, had received additional masks earlier in the week, so he and his team coordinated a delivery of about 65 masks to the cardiothoracic team at the hospital. Mallard said the hospital staff was overwhelmed with emotion by the donation and took a picture with the masks to thank the Lowe’s team.
THURSDAY – MARCH 19, 2020
Boosting Local Business
A Charlotte, North Carolina distillery, Doc Porter’s, switched over from making spirits to hand sanitizer amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. But the business only had enough funds to make a few batches. Lowe’s learned of the need and offered to cover the cost of their production for one month and donate containers to the distillery for the product. The hand sanitizer will be donated to local area hospitals and non-profits in need.
Serving The Frontlines
When Meridian, Idaho Store Manager Steven Brooks heard reports of protective equipment shortages in the medical community, he and his team knew they could help. They delivered a shipment of 3M 95 masks down the road to St. Luke’s of Meridian Medical Center.
“When I showed up there, they were fired up,” Brooks said. “They were excited to see that donation and they recognized the red vest and thought it was really cool that Lowe’s was doing that.”
Making A Difference In Marietta
The Lowe’s team in Marietta, Ohio led by Store Manager Brandon Moore, coordinated a donation of painting masks to Marietta Memorial Hospital, knowing the healthcare professionals have been short on supply. Since then, they’ve also donated to multiple hospitals and nursing homes in the area, as well as the local fire department and police department.
At Jackson General Hospital, which was “completed depleted of supplies,” according to Moore, “Healthcare workers have been thanking our store and company for our support,” Moore said. “They’ve shared comments saying it isn’t even the actual product that we donated but the thought that we would support and pray for our local healthcare providers that are on the front lines that made a huge impact within the community.”
WEDNESDAY – MARCH 18, 2020
Helping A Home For Veterans
A veterans home in Marquette, Michigan found itself in need of safety and cleaning products. The home reached out to the Marquette Lowe’s store manager, Mark Byczek, to see if Lowe’s could help. Understanding how scary this time is for so many and the importance of helping the community, Byczek’s store was able to provide safety glasses, ventilators and cleaning supplies. Employees from the home expressed their appreciation for Byczek and his team when they picked up the donated supplies from the store.
Caring For Associates
As part of Lowe’s $100 million commitment to its associates and communities, all Lowe’s stores will create food pantries inside their break rooms. These pantries were set up to allow all associates to have access to food while they are at work in the store and for them to take home. Associates can take supplies if they need them, or leave items for others.
Shipping Urgent Products
When a request for masks came in, the team at the Lowe’s Regional Distribution Center (RDC) in Rockford, Illinois responded quickly. In a matter of hours, they loaded respirators onto trucks headed to hospitals in need in New York, Atlanta and Charlotte.
Providing Food To Those In Need
As schools closed, anxious families nationwide emptied food banks and grocery stores. Witnessing the need, Jeffery Conrow, the store manager at Lowe’s of Seabrook, New Hampshire decided to do something to help those in need in his community. His team collected more than 500 meals for those in the community who need help with food donations and even those who have stayed at home because of the virus.
“The smallest act of kindness can make the biggest difference, that’s really our rally cry right now,” said Conrow.
Community Outreach
A Lowe’s district manager in western North Carolina challenged her store teams to do something positive in response to the impact the coronavirus has had on their communities. Candace Hartley inspired every store in her district to reach out to at least one community organization and ask how they could help. This week, all 13 stores participated in at least one community outreach. For example, the Lowe’s in Waynesville, North Carolina reached out to Haywood County first responders and, after learning of their needs, gathered up gallons of bleach, rolls of paper towels and Lowe’s buckets for delivery to all of their emergency response units.
The Lowe’s of Murphy, North Carolina reached out to the Clay County school district and provided enough support to help the district deliver more than 300 meals a day to students. The store also donated 32 totes and hand trucks to help volunteers carry the food. Plus, all 13 stores in the district set up food pantries for associates who may need help.
Supporting Students
As many schools and colleges closed unexpectedly, some college students were left scrambling to pack up their things and return home. When Lowe’s learned UNC Charlotte students needed boxes and other moving materials, store manager Michael Green at the Lowe’s of North Charlotte knew his team could help. He coordinated with other area stores to round up more than 1,500 moving boxes, duct tape and other moving supplies. The store delivered the materials to UNC Charlotte so students could pick them up at their own hall’s front desk.
“Being able to step out to help out this community is great,” Green said. “The fact that we’re here and open during this time to help others is great.”
Read more about Lowe’s response to COVID-19 and how it continues to support associates and customers.
