MOORESVILLE, N.C., May 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lowe's
Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) today announced a 2020 commitment of
more than $4.5 million to military
organizations that promote workforce development, support
affordable housing for veterans and provide COVID-19 relief to
first responders, as well as Memorial Day tributes in stores
nationwide.
For the second year, Lowe's stores will commemorate Memorial Day
by reserving and decorating one parking space at each store to
honor the fallen. Stores will also participate in the National
Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. local
time nationwide and invite customers to participate.
"Lowe's demonstrates our commitment to military every day, not
only on days marked by the calendar," said Joe McFarland, Marine and Desert Shield/Storm
veteran and Lowe's executive vice president of stores. "Our
Memorial Day tributes are one way we want to recognize those who
have made the ultimate sacrifice, and our expanded military
community commitment shows how we will make a meaningful
difference."
Lowe's longstanding commitment to the military community extends
to customers, suppliers and Lowe's nearly 20,000 active-duty and
veteran associates. The programs described serve to strengthen the
partnerships Lowe's has built to focus on safe, affordable housing
as well as to raise awareness of the skilled trade gap, encourage
careers in the skilled trades and support workforce
development.
Collaborating to Provide Safe, Affordable Homes
Lowe's
commitment to safe, affordable housing now extends through
Building Homes for Heroes, a nonprofit committed to
rebuilding lives and supporting service members injured while on
active duty. The organization builds or modifies homes, and
gifts them, mortgage-free, to veterans and their families.
Lowe's is proud to support the work of The Mission
Continues, which empowers and deploys veteran volunteers
alongside nonprofit partners and community leaders to improve
educational resources, increase access to parks and green spaces
and foster neighborhood identity in under-resourced
communities.
Also reinforcing Lowe's commitment, Operation FINALLY
HOME provides custom-built, mortgage-free homes and
home modifications to wounded, ill and injured veterans and the
widows of the fallen from all branches of the military. Lowe's
partnership contributes home building and modification support to
projects across the country.
Purple Heart Homes provides housing solutions for
service connected and aging veterans. From building ramps for
disabled veterans to providing home ownership opportunities to
younger veterans, Purple Heart Homes' programs are designed out of
necessity and fit the specific needs of veterans.
Committing to Support Skilled Trades and Workforce
Development
The USO is known as the Force
Behind the Forces® and strengthens America's military service
members by keeping them connected to family, home and country
throughout their service to the nation. Lowe's national partnership
with the USO supports military spouse programming and the USO's
Pathfinder® program, which offers a network of resources and
personalized support throughout all aspects of transition during
their military careers.
Lowe's partnership with
AMVETS includes contributing scholarships and
workforce training, helping veterans transition from military
service to employment nationwide. AMVETS is the nation's most
inclusive congressionally chartered veterans service organization
representing the interests of 20 million veterans.
As military families transition from one location to
another, MILLIE provides on-the-ground assistance.
Lowe's support will fund 300 jobs performed by a task services
network of military spouses stationed at over 70 installations
nationwide known as SCOUTS.
COVID-19 Relief
To support military impacted by
COVID-19, Lowe's has supported emergency funds for injured
veterans, essential products for military mobilizing during the
pandemic and on-the-ground assistance for transitioning military
families. Lowe's COVID-19 relief with the USO has included
providing PPE, mobile unit support, food canteens, hygiene and
sanitation for the National Guard and essential military personnel
mobilizing during the pandemic.
Lowe's also supported the Gary Sinise Foundation by
donating 2,000 Lowe's gift cards to their Snowball Express families
to support at-home DIY projects and more than 150 care packages to
congratulate graduates of Snowball Express, a Gary Sinise
Foundation program that supports the children of our fallen
military heroes and their surviving parent and/or guardian.
Memorial Day Support
On Memorial Day at stores
nationwide, Lowe's associates will decorate a parking space to
signify the tremendous loss of those servicemembers who have fallen
while defending our democracy. Each store's associates will
transform a space reserved for veterans, adding unique touches.
Inside, Lowe's will pause all store operations to observe the
National Moment of Remembrance at 3
p.m. local time on Memorial Day, May
25. An overhead announcement will invite customers to
participate.
In addition, Lowe's provided 5,000 specialized, padded gloves
manufactured by Mechanix Wear to protect the hands of those
planting flags at gravesites across the country.
Everyday Support
Lowe's continues to be an employer of
choice for military recruits, assisting transitioning veterans and
military spouses so they're able to find jobs at home, offering
workforce training and providing a 10% everyday military
discount.
In addition, Lowe's offers programs like differential pay during
service, veteran parking and camo vests for our associates to wear
as a symbol of service.
Visit Lowe's Newsroom to learn more about Lowe's military
partners and view a gallery of stores' local Memorial Day
tributes.
About Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a
FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving
approximately 18 million customers a week in the United States and Canada. With fiscal year 2019 sales of
$72.1 billion, Lowe's and its related
businesses operate or service more than 2,200 home improvement and
hardware stores and employ approximately 300,000 associates. Based
in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's
supports the communities it serves through programs focused on
creating safe, affordable housing and helping to develop the next
generation of skilled trade experts. For more information, visit
Lowes.com.
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SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc.