The Home Depot Foundation, The Mission Continues and Volunteers of America MI to Build a Veterans Memorial Park
Volunteer Effort is One of 200 Projects Included in The Home Depot Foundation’s Two-Month ‘Celebration of Service’ Initiative to Honor U.S. Military Veterans
WHAT:
Almost 100 volunteers from The Home Depot Foundation, The Mission Continues and Volunteers of America Michigan will team up to transform a vacant lot in downtown Detroit into a Veterans Memorial Park, a vibrant new green space with beautiful landscaping, benches and a large pergola. Volunteers will also be installing a flag stand, and the Michigan Honor Guard will raise the park’s first flag.
The vacant lot is across the street from a building that Volunteers of America Michigan is currently renovating to provide a transitional home for homeless veterans in Detroit as well as providing them with job training and other supportive services. Opening in November, this facility will serve up to 120 veterans each year, helping them transition successfully into civilian life.
Volunteers will:
- Build and stain park benches
- Build and stain a large pergola (20ft x 40ft)
- Install 260 linear feet of fencing
- Build walkway leading to a flagpole memorial
- Create flower beds and plant perennials
- Plant nearly 3 dozen shrubs and trees
- Remove invasive plants and overgrowth
The veterans served by VOA Michigan in will plant, grow and cultivate some of their own food items in the garden areas of the park. The memorial park will also serve as a constant reminder of their pride in their service to their country, and the entire local community will benefit from removing the eyesore of a deserted lot and having a new park and green space to enjoy.
This effort to support Volunteers of America Michigan is part of The Home Depot Foundation’s two-month ‘Celebration of Service’, a campaign to honor U.S. military veterans, celebrate their contributions and provide support to nonprofit organizations that serve them. Along with veteran volunteers from The Mission Continues, Home Depot associate volunteers will complete 200 service projects across the country between Sept. 11 and Veterans Day (Nov. 11, 2011).
WHO:
Jason Dokey, Store Manager and Team Depot Captain, The Home Depot
Patrick Patterson, VP of Operations – Volunteers of America Michigan
Tiffany McCardell, Air Force Veteran and Fellow for The Mission Continues
WHERE:
253 East Milwaukee Street, Detroit, MI 48202
(The area of the city is called “new center” it is located in the vicinity of the Fisher building. Two blocks from the old GM world headquarters)
WHEN:
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
8 a.m. – 12 Noon: Volunteer activity and interview opportunities
CONTACT: Paula Drake, paula_drake@homedepot.com, 770-384-3439
FACT SHEET
CELEBRATION OF SERVICE: SEPTEMBER 11 – VETERANS DAY
200 Service Projects in Two Months to Improve the Homes and Lives of Veterans
The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation are partnering with The Mission Continues to launch “Celebration of Service,” a major campaign to enhance the lives of U.S. military veterans and to highlight the needs and opportunities they face.
The campaign includes 200 service projects directly aimed at improving homes, facilities and community centers where veterans and their families live and receive services. From Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles, Calif., thousands of volunteers from each organization will join together on projects such as renovating the home of a disabled veteran or upgrading the kitchen at an American Legion.
Celebration of Service is intended not only to help veterans, but also to give veterans the opportunity to continue to serve as leaders in their local communities. The Home Depot Foundation and The Mission Continues will also be engaging veterans to participate in volunteer events during this time.
VOLUNTEER EVENTS
Associates from The Home Depot stores will volunteer to work side-by-side with military veterans across the country through The Mission Continues to complete 200 service projects. Project examples include:
- Phoenix: Working with Arizona Heroes to Hometowns to renovate the homes of injured and disabled veterans.
- Charleston: Performing repairs, making upgrades and beautifying the facilities of Crisis Ministries, which provides supportive housing and other services to assist homeless veterans and their families.
- Bethesda. MD/ Washington DC: Partnering with the Fisher House Foundation to make needed repairs to the Fisher House where families stay while their wounded loved ones receive treatment at the new National Naval Medical Center/ Walter Reed hospital campus.
The Home Depot Foundation will be making grants of approximately $1 million per week to nonprofit organizations serving veterans, for a total of $9 million donated from September 11 through November 11. The announcements will be made each Monday morning via Twitter and Facebook, and will also be featured on The Home Depot Foundation’s web site. (@homedepotfdn, www.facebook.com/homedepotfoundation, www.homedepotfoundation.org)
CELEBRATION OF SERVICE GIFT CARD
When customers purchase this specially-themed Home Depot gift card from 9/11/11 – 11/11/11, five percent of the value placed on the card will go to The Home Depot Foundation to support nonprofit organizations serving the housing needs of veterans. Gift cards may be purchased in our stores or online at www.homedepot.com.
PARTNERSHIP WITH 3 DOORS DOWN
During Celebration of Service, when you buy multi-platinum rock band 3 Doors Down’s new CD “Time of My Life” from www.homedepot.com, $1 of the sale will go directly to support The Home Depot Foundation’s veterans’ housing initiatives. The music of 3 Doors Down has inspired and comforted veterans, active duty troops and their families for many years
The funds generated by sales from both the Celebration of Service gift card and the 3 Doors Down CD are over and above The Home Depot Foundation’s $30 million commitment. For more about the nonprofit organizations supported by The Home Depot Foundation, please visit www.homedepotfoundation.org.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS
CELEBRATION OF SERVICE: SEPTEMBER 11 – VETERANS DAY
200 Service Projects in Two Months to Improve the Homes and Lives of Veterans
THE HOME DEPOT FOUNDATION
The Home Depot Foundation is committed to ensuring that every U.S. military veteran has a safe place to call home. In April 2011, the Foundation a three-year, $30 million initiative to address veterans’ critical housing needs. Since its formation in 2002, The Home Depot Foundation has granted more than $270 million to nonprofit organizations improving homes and lives in local communities. To learn more and see our associates in action, visit www.homedepotfoundation.org, follow us on Twitter @homedepotfdn, and like us on Facebook.
THE MISSION CONTINUES
The Mission Continues is a national nonprofit organization that has committed to transform the lives of post-9/11 veterans by challenging them to serve again as civilians. Founded in 2007 when Navy SEAL Eric Greitens returned from Iraq, the organization offers paid service fellowships to wounded and disabled veterans, awarding over 180 fellowships in 30 states to date. The Mission Continues is reshaping the way this country welcomes home our veterans by showing that these men and women are tremendous assets whose leadership and skills can be vital to their community’s improvement. For more information, please visit www.missioncontinues.org.
VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA
Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need live healthy, safe and productive lives. Since 1896, our ministry of service has supported and empowered America’s most vulnerable groups, including seniors, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, those recovering from addictions and many others. Through hundreds of human service programs, including housing and health care, Volunteers of America helps more than 2 million people in over 400 communities. We offer a variety of services for older Americans, in particular, that allow them to maintain their independence and quality of life – everything from an occasional helping hand to full-time care. Our work touches the mind, body, heart and ultimately the spirit of those we serve, integrating our deep compassion with highly effective programs and services.
# # #
