From homes and businesses to decorative spaces and drool-worthy landscaping, Lowe’s is known for helping customers find exactly what they need – the products, knowledge or help to build exactly the space they want.
But Lowe’s is also a builder of something else: Community.
In more than 1,700 communities across the U.S., you’ll find a Lowe’s store and a family of associates working together to give back to the communities where they live, work and play. Just like their customers.
As a home improvement company, Lowe’s is uniquely suited to contribute to specific areas where it can make the biggest, most positive impact. Its customers agree. That’s why the company is focusing its philanthropic giving efforts in two areas it knows best: housing and skilled trades. When working with its national partners, more than 85 percent of Lowe’s charitable giving supports these focus areas.
SAFE & AFFORDABLE HOUSING
One in six families in the U.S. spends more than 50 percent of their income on housing. Lowe’s believes better, more affordable housing leads to stronger childhood development and stability for families to achieve physical and mental health.
That’s why Lowe’s is focused on supporting safe and affordable housing initiatives affecting those in need, as well as communities impacted by natural disasters and military families. Lowe’s utilizes its nonprofit partners to find projects like home builds or shelter renovations to address these issues. Partners include:
- Habitat for Humanity – Lowe’s has partnered with the group since 2003 and has contributed more than $65 million. This year, Lowe’s joined Habitat Charlotte to dedicate safe and affordable homes on a new street in the city named Red Vest Way, in honor of Lowe’s and its red vest associates. Lowe’s Heroes volunteers contributed nearly 600 hours to help build three homes on Red Vest Way.
- Rebuilding Together – Lowe’s has invested nearly $19 million since the partnership began in 2007. This year, Lowe’s is planning to host Rebuild-A-Blocks in Charlotte, Atlanta and Houston, in addition to Building a Healthy Neighborhood in Seattle. Earlier this year, Rebuilding Together hosted an event where roughly 100 volunteers from Lowe’s, local organizations and the community joined the National Football League players to repair six homes in Atlanta ahead of Super Bowl LIII.
- Operation Finally Home, which provides custom-built, mortgage-free homes and home modifications to America’s wounded, ill and injured veterans and the widows of the fallen.
SKILLED TRADES EDUCATION
By 2028, there will be 3 million unfilled jobs in the skilled trades. Because Lowe’s believes professional trades are an essential part of America’s future, the company is changing perceptions and connecting people to career paths in the skilled trades through partnerships and its own programs.
In 2019, Lowe’s and more than 60 organizations launched Generation T, a movement intended to help fill the skilled trade gap. By donating time, money and associate expertise, Lowe’s is able to host or participate in events and skilled trades immersion workshops across the country, providing high school students with hands-on experience and educating them about skilled trade career opportunities.
Within these two focus areas for philanthropic giving, the company also has a heart for supporting the U.S. military and those impacted by disaster. Through its many national partnerships, the company strives to support these two groups of people and communities by connecting them to events or initiatives in line with safe, affordable housing and skilled trades education.
MILITARY
Founded by a veteran, Lowe’s has a rich heritage in honoring military service. From acknowledging its own military associates, to finding special ways to say ‘thank you’ to its military customers and their families, Lowe’s is a proud supporter of the U.S. military. Through funding, volunteer projects and its daily military discount, Lowe’s will continue to serve those who have served us. Lowe’s also announced new partnerships with military organizations in 2019, including United Service Organizations (USO), American Veterans (AMVETS) and Operation FINALLY HOME.
DISASTER
When a natural disaster rocks a community, big or small, Lowe’s shows up and has for years. Whether it’s educating communities about preparedness, passing out blue buckets of hurricane relief supplies, cleaning up tornado damage or aiding fire or flood evacuees, Lowe’s will continue to support communities impacted by natural disasters. In 2018, Lowe’s committed $4 million to hurricane relief aid after two hurricanes struck the Carolinas and Florida Panhandle and worked with partner Operation BBQ Relief to serve warm meals to those impacted by the hurricanes. This year, Lowe’s packed 20,000 blue buckets full of donated disaster relief supplies that will be shipped to communities in need in the event of a disaster.
Not only does Lowe’s work with its nonprofit partners on a national scale, it also encourages each individual store to give back to its own community in a way that will provide the most impact locally. This happens through discretionary funds allotted to each store every month as well as Lowe’s Heroes projects throughout the year. Lowe’s Heroes is a company-wide volunteer program where associates adopt a project of their choice that makes a difference in their community. Through all of these projects and local giving, more than $10 million is given back to local communities each year.
