Behind the Scenes: Celebration of Service 2013
Celebration of Service is just less than a month away. Behind the scenes, The Home Depot Foundation team has been hard at work making sure all systems are a go for the third annual campaign starting Sept. 11. For two months throughVeterans Day, thousands of Home Depot associates will complete more than 350 serviceprojects across the country. The campaign kicks off in Los Angeles on Sept. 5, with two projects in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of GreaterLos Angeles and Volunteers of America, both focusing on women veterans and their families.
The Launch
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles introduced us to Lidia Perez, a Navy veteran who served for five years and saw combat twice with Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. She is a single mother of two young boys and shares her home with her mother, two adult sisters and two nieces.
“Since June, we’ve have been working to locate a woman veteran in need of critical home repairs for the launch,” said Sherry Caraway, western division foundation field manager. “To launch Celebration of Service, Team Depot will paint the home, install a fence and turn a bare backyard into an outdoor living space and child friendly play area, in addition to other projects.”
The Campaign
As the campaign continues, the Foundation’s national partners, such as Volunteers of America and Operation Homefront, will identify other exciting projects across the country that serve women veterans and families.
“The great thing about our partners is that they focus on housing for veterans throughout the year and can identify meaningful projects that will impact lives long after our Team Depot project is done,” said Heather Pritchard, senior manager of national partnerships and Atlanta. “The hours we spend on projects during Celebration of Service will change lives for many veterans and their families for years to come.”
The Mission
Backed by the Foundation’s five-year, $80 million commitment to ensure military veterans and their families have a safe place to call home, The Home Depot Foundation’s third annual Celebration of Service campaign will mobilize its army of nearly 9,000 Team Depot volunteers to work side-by-side with veterans to complete more than 350 projects.
“Many women veterans find themselves and their families without a safe place to call home after dedicating years bravely serving our country,” said Kelly Caffarelli, president of The Home Depot Foundation. “During our third annual Celebration of Service, our mission is not only to repair and refurbish the homes and facilities where veterans live and receive services, but also to show our appreciation to veterans and their families for their sacrifices.”
We also want your veteran stories. Send photos and/or videos with stories of veterans who are important to you to The Home Depot Foundation by emailing HDVets@homedepot.com Your submission might be featured on the Foundation’s social media accounts.
