Lowe’s To Donate $500,000 To Help Communities Impacted By Tornadoes

Lowe’s national partners American Red Cross and First Response Team of America on ground assisting tornado victims

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Lowe’s announced today it will donate $500,000 to support disaster relief and rebuilding efforts in communities affected by tornadoes, including recent storms across the central and southern United States. Lowe’s is working with its national nonprofit partners to provide both immediate and long-term support to local communities impacted by destructive storms.

As part of the $500,000 pledge, Lowe’s will donate $250,000 to the American Red Cross to meet immediate needs, including providing food, shelter, emotional support and other relief to devastated communities. Lowe’s will use the remaining $250,000to fund projects in communities with the greatest need as identified by its nonprofit partners throughout the tornado season and as communities rebuild.

The First Response Team of America, Lowe’s national disaster relief partner, has been on the ground assisting with relief efforts in Mayflower, Ark., one of the areas hardest hit by storms on April 27. Local Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers will support ongoing recovery efforts by delivering critically needed relief supplies in Arkansas and other communities impacted by storms this week. Lowe’s also is assisting its employees and their family members impacted by the tornadoes through theLowe’s Employee Relief Fund.

“Lowe’s has a long-standing commitment to assist local communities impacted by natural disasters. Our thoughts are with those affected by the recent deadly tornadoes,” said Joan Higginbotham, Lowe’s director of community relations. “As we move into the peak of tornado season, we’re ready to assist in future disaster relief and recovery efforts in devastated communities across the county.”

As a member of the Red Cross’ Annual Disaster Giving Program, Lowe’s pledges donations on an ongoing basis in advance of disasters to help ensure the Red Cross can take immediate action. Since partnering with the Red Cross in 1999, Lowe’s and its customers have contributed more than $25 million for disaster relief.

Donations to Red Cross disaster relief are used to help people affected by disasters big and small. Gifts enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters. The Red Cross has sheltered hundreds of people this week and provided food and health services to tornado survivors across the region.

ABOUT LOWE’S:
Lowe’s supports the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. The company’s signature education grant program, Lowe’s Toolbox for Education®, has donated more than $38 million to 8,000 K-12 public schools, benefiting more than 5 million schoolchildren. Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers support local community projects and our national nonprofit partners such as Habitat for HumanityRebuilding Together and the American Red Cross. Since 2007, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Foundation together have contributed nearly $200 million to improve communities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. To learn more, visitLowes.com/SocialResponsibility and LowesInTheCommunity.tumblr.com.

ABOUT AMERICAN RED CROSS:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.