Lowe’s Employee Relief Fund: 20 years of helping associates in need

Kevin Ridley
Kevin Ridley

Staff Writer

Jul 08, 2019

Donations to the fund provide help to associates during financial hardship

Each year, thousands of Lowe’s associates are hit with the unexpected. From natural disasters or medical events to a death in the family; all have devastating impacts. In response, Lowe’s created a way for associates to get back on their feet during those times of significant, unforeseen financial hardship. It’s called the Lowe’s Employee Relief Fund (LERF).

In 2016, Baton Rouge, Louisiana suffered catastrophic flooding impacting 300 Lowe’s associates. Paris Lytle was the store manager then and recalls that the Lowe’s Employee Relief Fund was “truly a savior,” for some of his employees.

“It [flooding] changed our lives for the worse because of the event, and it’s changed our lives back again for the better because of the Employee Relief Fund,” Lytle said.

Lowe’s associates contribute to the fund and the company matches each contribution dollar for dollar. Now, in its 20th year, the Lowe’s Employee Relief Fund has helped more than 33,000 associates, by giving more than $39 million in assistance.