Lowe’s employees make an impact at the Carter Work Project
Thanks to the generous financial and volunteer support of sponsors like Lowe’s, Habitat for Humanity’s Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project has helped change lives and build community for nearly four decades. Lowe’s has a longstanding history of participating in the annual event and has committed US$1 million to support the Carter Work Project in Charlotte, North Carolina, this year.
More than 175 Lowe’s employees will be on the ground volunteering in Charlotte, including first-time Carter Work Project volunteer Randy Alexander, director of community relations at Lowe’s. “I’ll be out there throughout the week with a hammer and a hard hat,” says Randy, who has also volunteered with Habitat locally. “I can’t wait to lock arms with my fellow red vest associates and others who are giving back within our community.”
Lowe’s is headquartered just down the road from Charlotte in nearby Mooresville, and its volunteers have made a big impact locally on affordable housing. In Charlotte, there’s even a street – Red Vest Way – lined with Habitat Charlotte Region homes whose name was inspired by the distinctive red vests worn by Lowe’s associates. Volunteers from Lowe’s dedicated nearly 600 hours to help families build those houses.
“Over the years that we’ve partnered with Habitat locally, we’ve come close to 10,000 volunteer hours, which is significant,” says Randy. “We hear from our associates that volunteering with Habitat is one of the most meaningful and impactful ways for them to give back to their community.”
“The day that keys are handed over to these families and their lives are forever impacted in a positive way is why we’re all here doing this.”— Randy Alexander, director of community relations at Lowe’s
Julie Yenichek, senior director of community relations at Lowe’s, volunteered during the last Carter Work Project, held in Nashville, Tennessee. She’s excited to volunteer alongside homeowners who will be living in Habitat Charlotte Region’s large-scale affordable housing neighborhood, The Meadows at Plato Price. “For Lowe’s and our colleagues in the greater Charlotte area, it’s going to be a really incredible week for all of us to come together and serve our community,” she says.
Since 2003, Lowe’s had donated more than $92 million to Habitat and over the next two years will commit $6 million to help more than 1,000 families and older adults make critical repairs and modifications to their homes.
“As a home improvement company, Lowe’s is uniquely positioned to partner with Habitat,” Julie says. “And we’re looking forward to continuing our work with Habitat during the Carter Work Project to make an impact in Charlotte where affordable housing is a big issue.”
Randy is also eager to see how the new homes built in The Meadows at Plato Price neighborhood will make a difference in the community. “The day that keys are handed over to these families and their lives are forever impacted in a positive way is why we’re all here doing this,” says Randy. “It’s going to be transformative for the Charlotte community and the families who will live in these homes.”